Due to illness, former super welterweight world champion Liam Smith will no longer appear on the Joshua vs Dubois card this weekend.
The Liverpool man was set to face Josh Kelly for a potential world title shot, but he was struck down with less than two weeks remaining. WBN understands the sickness significantly disrupted Smith’s preparations enough to force him off the Wembley Stadium event.
Turki Alalshikh confirmed the news on Monday, a few days after reports first surfaced. Kelly, 30, will battle a new foe as Sunderland man aims to continue an impressive run of late.
“The unbeaten Ishmael Davis [13-0, 6 KOs] has been confirmed to take on Josh Kelly as part of the Riyadh Season Wembley Card this Saturday, September 21, in London,” said the statement.
“The Leeds-born fighter most recently defeated Troy Williamson unanimously in a twelve-round super-welterweight contest. He now gets the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Kelly at Wembley Stadium this weekend following the withdrawal of Liam Smith due to a virus.
“The fight is part of a stacked card at England’s national stadium on Saturday, headlined by Daniel Dubois’ first defense of his IBF heavyweight title. Dubois goes up against two-time former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in front of what is expected to be a record crowd for a UK boxing event.
“The Riyadh Season Card showpiece in London features six all-British fights and a special performance from legendary Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.”
Joshua aims to become a three-time world heavyweight champion on the card by picking up his second vacated title. Tyson Fury dropped the first belt for AJ [won by Charles Martin] before Usyk gave the second to Dubois as a ‘gift’ for the fight.
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