Anthony Joshua warns Daniel Dubois he is ‘willing to die’ to beat him in their Wembley grudge match as he bids to walk with legends and become a three-time heavyweight champion

Anthony Joshua has warned Daniel Dubois he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on Saturday night in his bid to join the elite of three-time heavyweight world champions.

As he prepares to challenge his English compatriot for the IBF title at Wembley Stadium, Joshua says: ‘You’re fighting someone who’s prepared to die to win.’

Asked for insight into his willingness to take the enormous risks that come with going head-to-head with another huge puncher, Joshua added: ‘Of course I know the danger. That’s one thing about fighting.

“But let me tell you, I’ve learned that it takes more than being strong to be a champion and a complete fighter. I truly believe, based on what I’ve studied and read and what great people who came before me have said, that there’s a lot more to it than just being a physical specimen.

“That’s a good trait, but when you find someone who’s willing to take that from you, when they’re able to take your best shot, that’s when you find out what it takes to be a champion. I’ve done that. I’ve been to the source.”

The two Englishmen will meet at Wembley – and AJ has given Dubois a warning

Joshua looked relaxed as he attended the ceremonial arrival for the fight in London

The conclusion is that the experience of all those survivals is more important than the seven years of age that he attributes to the 27-year-old Dubois.

Joshua is also motivated by the emotional gulf between victory and defeat. The giant who wept at the moment of his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, then the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in more than a decade, explains: ‘When you lose, it hurts. You go into a slump and it takes a couple of weeks to get back into balance. Time is the healer. When you win, you’re on a high, and you’re riding that wave.’

Joshua hopes to join the elite of three-time heavyweight world champions if he defeats Dubois in their revenge match

He enjoyed the latter after his knockout victory over UFC legend Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, but still went through his usual, humble ritual the morning after.

He says: ‘It’s funny, but when I wake up on a Sunday, it’s always the same. The bills are still being taken out of your account and you still have to do your laundry. I stayed in an Air BnB in Saudi Arabia and the next morning I was doing laundry and ironing.’

Joshua knows that every fight has ‘its own moment’. He elaborates: ‘I have to draw a line under everything I’ve done in the past. I can’t take that into the ring on Saturday night.

“I don’t want anything from Dan other than a slap. I don’t want him to respect what I’ve accomplished or anything else from him. If I want his respect, I have to earn it.”

What he does do in front of a record crowd expected to exceed 96,000 at Wembley Stadium is his two reigns as world champion. If he wins this weekend, he will join Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitchsko and Michael Moorer in the pantheon of three-time heavyweight champions.

Joshua has warned Dubois that he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in his bid to defeat him

He would also open the golden gate to another Battle of Britain in the Riyadh season, against Tyson Fury, regardless of whether the Gypsy King wins his December rematch against Usyk or not.

All the more reason why he keeps repeating: ‘I will do everything I can to win.’

Dubois v Joshua for the IBF world heavyweight title will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN pay-per-view on Saturday night