ANTHONY JOSHUA is on track to reach half a million ticket sales ahead of his record-breaking next fight.
AJ will challenge for Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight world title at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
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And a never before seen number of 96,000 will flock to the national football stadium to watch the Battle of Britain.
It means the record set by Tyson Fury in 2022 – when 94,000 people watched him beat Dillian Whyte – will be broken.
Joshua first won the heavyweight title in 2016 by defeating Charles Martin.
He then defended twice before attempting to add the WBA strap to his team-up with Wladimir Klitschko.
This was AJ’s first fight at the stadium, with 90,000 spectators watching him win in the 11th round after a classic bout with Klitschko.
From there he faced Carlos Takam in another defense before defeating Joseph Parker for the WBO belt.
Both matches took place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, attracting 78,000 spectators on each occasion.
Joshua returned to Wembley in 2018 and defeated Alexander Povetkin with 80,000 spectators.
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Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the huge world title fight at Wembley
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But then his career ended with a disastrous American debut.
AJ was scheduled to face American big man Jarrell Miller, but the American Jarrell shamefully failed multiple drug tests.
Overweight outsider Andy Ruiz Jr. came forward to pull off a sensational upset over seven rounds in New York.
But Joshua won the unified belts again six months later in Saudi Arabia – his first fight in the Middle East.
With the titles back around his waist, the Londoner found himself at Wembley again.
But this time the match took place in front of a small crowd of 1,000 people inside Wembley Arena amid the Corona virus epidemic.
A select few watched Joshua defeat Kubrat Pulev with a powerful right hand.
But after negotiations to fight Fury failed, a mandatory title defence against Oleksandr Usyk was called for.
A crowd of 66,000 turned up at Tottenham’s £1 billion stadium, but it was heartbreaking for AJ.
He dominated for 12 rounds and once again left with bandages.
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And unlike Ruiz, he couldn’t avenge the loss when he rematched Usyk in Saudi a year later.
Joshua’s popularity and confidence have hit an all-time low as he races to get back to the top.
Joshua returned to the O2 Arena for the first time since 2016 and defeated Jermaine Franklin.
Four months later he re-ignited O2, replacing Robert Helenius.
Joshua soon returned to Riyadh twice more, stopping Otto Wallin in six rounds and defeating former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in two rounds.
With four wins in a row, the hope is that 34-year-old Joshua is not only back to his best form, but perhaps even better than ever.
And with a record crowd of 96,000 announced, clearly the British public’s confidence has been restored.
Read more at The Scottish Sun
This means that Joshua has moved 488,000 tickets in his Superstar career.
And now he has a chance to join an exclusive heavyweight club with Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield as a three-time champion.
Joshua vs Dubois fight predictions
This weekend will see one of the greatest British battles ever staged at Wembley.
But who will emerge victorious under the leadership of this famous boxer? Some of boxing’s biggest names have had their say…
Oleksandr Usyk“My favourite is Anthony Joshua, but I’m really bad at making predictions. But I would predict Anthony Joshua.”
Dillion Whyte“I think it’s one of those fights where it’s really a 50/50 fight in my opinion.”
Joe Joyce: “I was initially going with Joshua but I don’t know, Dubois is coming forward.”
Frazer Clarke“As powerful as Dubois is and as good a fighter as he’s becoming, I’d still have to go for Joshua.”
Francis Ngannou: “Even though Joshua lost twice against Usyk and Dubois fought Usyk and almost knocked him out and almost won, I would still give this award to Joshua.”
Click here for more fight predictions for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois
