Pub flashpoint sparked Anthony Joshua aggression ahead of Daniel Dubois fight

Anthony Joshua has revealed a flashpoint in a London pub was the trigger for his threat to smash a chair over Daniel Dubois’ face in the build-up to Saturday’s Wembley collision.

Joshua is aiming to join Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield by becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion by seizing Dubois’ IBF title in front of a 96,000 crowd.

The fuse was lit for the potentially explosive all-British clash when the rivals had to be separated by security and their promotional teams during a stormy interview in June.

Joshua was angered by what he viewed as disrespect from Dubois, but it was an incident the previous week that really encouraged him to show his teeth in a “calculated” response.

“I was in the pub. One little kid – well I’m 35 and he’s probably 30-something – thought he could say something,” Joshua said.

“You can’t let anyone think they can speak to you in a certain way because at the pub, there are other people who are looking at this person talking to me like that.

“His mate tried to show him something and he said: ‘I don’t give a f*** if AJ is here.’ I said: ‘What?! Don’t ever think you can talk like that’.

“F*** boxing, you know who I am and you know what I’m about, so don’t ever think you can disrespect me – because it won’t end well for you. So we draw a line under that. Did I leave? No way!

“Then the week after I’m doing a face-off and Dan tried to get mouthy! I’m still in the mindset where you don’t let anyone think that they can take a mile. What happens if Jarrell Miller or Deontay Wilder starts thinking they can talk to me like that?

“So, Dan, I’m gonna put a stop to you there, and listen: I will smash this f***ing chair across your face, and I’ll ram the f***ing pole down your