Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois were forced to split when they almost came to blows months before the fight following a ‘spicy’ confrontation

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Daniel Dubois almost came to blows three months before their world title superfight.

The London heavyweights will face off on September 21 at a glittering Wembley Stadium – in front of the biggest crowd in the ground’s history – for mega prize money.

But they almost kicked off the feud in the dark, shadowy bowels of the small arena next door, before 34-year-old AJ stormed out of the picture.

And the two-time champion warned the boy wonder, eight years younger, that he was a dangerous street fighter – surviving hardships on the streets and with the law – long before he was a celebrated and respected boxer.

“Yes, we had a bit of aggression”, smiled the London 2012 legend. “It’s good.

“There are two aspects to this, the competitive side, the Queensberry Rules of boxing. But you also have the instinct you have, as a fighter.

“And that’s the way it is. Before boxing I was a good fighter, that’s an instinct you have when someone calls you out.

“He said ‘let’s go now’. And I said: ‘let’s go then’. Without security, I just walked away, I thought I would be the bigger man.”

Dubois attributed the tense situation to the brutal jet lag he suffered after a 12-hour flight back from Copacabana beach in Brazil.

Adonis, 26, had to cut short a bus driver’s holiday training and recuperate in the South American paradise to return to London and announce the clash.

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Joshua x Dubois full fight card at Wembley

• Anthony Joshua x Daniel Dubois
• Anthony Cacace x Josh Warrington
• Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson
• Hamzah Sheeraz x Tyler Denny
• Josh Kelly x Liam Smith
• Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padley

And it helped spark a turbulent time with the superstar who was once flown to Sheffield to help with sparring sessions nine years ago before becoming a British sporting legend.

“I had jet lag, that’s all,” said the powerhouse.

“My mind wasn’t in the right place, but it was okay and it was all part of the fun and getting into the groove.”

Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren – who lost AJ’s pro signing after his coronation in 2012 – is the brains behind Dubois’ career.

And he witnessed the opening round unfold and believes that his man already has the advantage for a fight that has all the ingredients to be a close shootout.

“It almost exploded up there,” he purred a few days before the gold dust tickets went on sale.

“But you’ll have to wait until the movie comes out to see it. It was quite lively. We had a confrontation around a table and it got a little spicy.”

And Warren’s promotional opposite, Eddie Hearn, revealed tensions were so high the pair had to be separated.

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