ANTHONY JOSHUA and Daniel Dubois are set to smash the Wembley record of 94,000 fans.
The all-London heavyweight war – for the IBF heavyweight world title on September 21 – is on course to eclipse the mega-crowd that crammed in to watch Tyson Fury knock out Dillian Whyte in 2022.
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has officially applied for London Mayor Sadiq Khan to increase the capacity at the home of English football.
The mastermind behind the boxing resurgence to promote his Riyadh Season brand wrote: “Due to high ticket demand, we’ve requested to extend the capacity at Wembley Stadium for the highly anticipated bout between Joshua and Dubois at Riyadh Season Wembley Edition.
“We hope to set a record for the largest attendance in boxing history at Wembley Stadium.”
The only obstacle is likely to be the security and policing – especially after the shameful 2020 Euros final where 2,000 ticketless oafs stormed the Arches and up to 6,000 caused horrible scenes around the iconic venue.
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Thankfully, in 2022, boxing fans proved titanic events could happen at the magnificent North-West London ground.
A post-war British record crowd watched the Gypsy King obliterate his British rival with a savage uppercut.
Statistics released by the Met Police showed the force billed organisers a total of £72,259.29 for policing it.
But the infinite funds at the disposal of Alalshikh and his efforts to re-establish the sport as a mainstream success can handle the financial implications comfortably.
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Alalshikh intends to make the spectacular showdown a family-affair with dedicated play areas and a performance from Oasis leadman Liam Gallagher, who has just announced a reunion with brother Noel.
When the fight between the two former Team GB sparring partners was announced, Dubois said: “It’s a dream.
“Especially after having to come back from two defeats and challenging for a world title.
“I now have a chance to win the damn thing outright and that’s what I want.
“I will demolish AJ, from here I can only get even better.”
The selling out of Wembley comes as no surprise to Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren, who last month tipped the bout to break the attendance record.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, the veteran promoter said: “Oh, it’s massive.
“I mean, we will be applying to increase the capacity like we did last time when Tyson Fury fought against Dillian Whyte.
“And I think we’ve got it, I think we will probably break that record. So it’s really looking good.”
Victory over Dubois will see Joshua become a THREE-TIME heavyweight champion.
AJ, 34, goes into his 13th world title fight on the back of an impressive four-fight win streak, in which he’s knocked three opponents.
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The Watford warrior brutalised former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in his last outing in March, knocking him out cold in the second round of their Saudi showdown.
Dubois, meanwhile, stopped the previously undefeated Filip Hrgovic in June to become interim IBF champ and was elevated to full champion a few weeks later.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
