MY GATEWAY TO THE BIG TIME

Dubois vows to dispatch Bryan and set up HUGE fights with AJ and the other heavyweight giants

DANIEL DUBOIS reckons that winning the WBA title tonight is the gateway to mega-fights against Anthony Joshua and the heavyweight elite.

Dubois challenges Trevor Bryan in Miami for the WBA’s regular title and on the line is a clear path to the four major crowns held by Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

“This is a stepping stone to the major belts,” the Londoner said. “I’ve worked hard for it. I’ve been given this opportunity and I’m going to take it with both hands.

“I speak to people and they let me know that this will lead to the big belts, the Joshuas, the biggest fights out there.

“First off is Saturday and after that we can talk all we want about who’s next. I’m not taking my eyes off him. I’m going in there to take him out, devastation.”

Dubois, 24, has already won versions of the WBA and WBO titles and defeating the unbeaten Bryan would take him to the next level in his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion.

The Greenwich fighter says he is ready and has vowed to “go through” the American to win.

“This has been a long time coming, going back to when I was seven years old,” he said. “This has been my dream, all the clubs, all the ups and downs, the comeback.

I’m here now and ready to take it. This is what I’ve been waiting for and I can’t wait for Saturday night. I’m going to go through Trevor and take that belt back home with me on the plane.

“I’m going to deliver. It’s going to be intense, I’m going to go up there and make it my fight.

“I’ll do watever it takes to win.” Ukrainian fighter Usyk holds the full WBA title and Dubois will be in the mix for a tilt at that belt if he can beat Bryan in his second successive fight in the US.

Dubois has rebuilt his career under trainer Shane McGuigan after suffering his only loss in 18 pro fights to Joe Joyce in December 2020. He is a long-odds-on favourite at 1-12 with bookies to beat

Bryan but the American, who defeated Bermane Stiverne last year to claim the regular belt, has vowed to wreck his dream.

The 32-year-old, who holds a 22-0 record, reacted angrily to Dubois’ claims that he will walk through him, saying: “This is going to be a war.

“This guy thinks I’m a nobody, that I’m just here for nothing and that he’s going to walk through me.

“That’s not going to happen. I hope he’s ready because this is going to be a hard night for him. This belt is not going back across the pond.

“I’m the dream and I’m going to be your nightmare on June 11.”

Bryan v Dubois is live on BT Sport 1 HD tonight from 7pm.