Anthony Joshua’s fight with Daniel Dubois now looks set to break a British attendance record.
Joshua will take on Dubois in a huge heavyweight scrap for the IBF world title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, with over 90,000 fans watching on after the event sold out last week.
Joshua and Dubois will meet in a potentially record-breaking Wembley tiltCredit: GETTY
Previously in 2022, the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte set the British boxing attendance record with 94,000 attending the clash after special dispensation was granted by the local authority.
AJ and ‘Dynamite’ were set to fight in front of 90,000 fans, but Saudi boxing chief HE Turki Alalshikh alongside Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren are not done selling tickets just yet.
The Middle East fight maker has revealed a request has been made to extend the capacity.
He wrote on social media: “We have submitted a request to increase the capacity at Wembley Stadium for the highly anticipated Joshua vs Dubois fight at #RiyadhSeasonCard Wembley Edition.
“We are aiming to set a record for the largest boxing attendance in the history of Wembley Stadium.”
The request has now been approved according to Alalshikh, who has confirmed the capacity has now been extended to 96,000.
Tickets will go back on sale, and fans will get the chance to also see Liam Gallagher, one half of recently reformed band Oasis, perform live in the National stadium.
It already promises to be a stacked event, with a jam-packed undercard featuring Joshua Buatsi and Liam Smith set to come before the hotly-anticipated main-event.
Gallagher will perform three Oasis classics on the night, which came before the news that he has settled his differences with brother Noel and legendary band Oasis will be back on tour in 2025.
Some huge boxing events have headlined the national stadium since it has been rebuilt including the famous rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves which set the record originally with 80,000 spectators.
Fury entertained a 94,000 record crowd in an epic 2021 event
Fury knocked out Whyte in front of the huge crowdCredit: Queensberry
Joshua himself has even fought at Wembley since that famous clash, with his two clashes against Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin on the hallowed turf surpassing Froch’s record before Fury vs Whyte took the throne.
It promises to be a huge occasion inside and outside of the ring, particularly for Joshua who has the opportunity to become a three-time world champion.
He will go in as a favourite given his recent form under new trainer Ben Davison, having won his last two fights over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou with devastating stoppages.
A huge clash with Tyson Fury could be on the table in 2025 if he wins, and the ‘Gypsy King’ is able to get revenge over Oleksandr Usyk in December.
And Fury himself wants to return to Wembley to face AJ in his final bow.
He said earlier this year: “Styles make fights and my style for him [Joshua] is kryptonite.
“I’ve always said AJ is built to measure for me and just because he knocked out that guy, it’s not the same.
“He couldn’t on any of those right hands on Usyk, a way smaller and lighter man. Boxing is a very difficult game. It’s changing all the time.
“When I’ve got through with the rabbit [Usyk] then we go down for AJ. And that’s the fight of Britain.
“Hopefully we do one fight in Saudi Arabia and one fight at Wembley. A showdown forever, a sign-out for the GK.”