HEAVYWEIGHT starlet Daniel Dubois – earmarked as heir to Anthony Joshua’s crown of British boxing golden boy – is sparring AJ’s next opponent Alexander Povetkin.

The 20-year-old Peacock gym prodigy is tearing through the division and is infamous for reports claiming he dropped AJ in some of their sensational sparring sessions.

But he has been called up to travel to Russia to go toe-to-toe with Povetkin, ahead of his September 22 bid to snatch the WBA, WBO and IBF belts away from Joshua.

Dubois, who will turn 21 at the start of September and be free to challenge for major titles, is slated to continue his learning curve against dangerous American veteran Kevin Johnson on October 6.

And he will have perfect preparation for facing the heavyweight gatekeeper who has also been beaten by AJ, Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury.

Joshua has been sparring hot prospects Martin Bakole and Agit Kabaye for his next Wembley date with destiny.

And Povetkin clearly wants some serious sparring by drafting in the giant 8-0 Greenwich prospect.

Back in December 2017, British boxing was rife with rumours the young pretender had dropped the Watford icon in training.

And the softly spoken English champion did not play down the alleged achievement.

He said: “Yes, there is definitely truth to that.

“I’ve sparred him and got him with some big shots.

"Anyone that gets in the ring with me will tell you I punch really hard.

“But sparring is just practice, you prepare for a hard fight so you want hard practice.

“Anthony is a lot further ahead of me in his professional career so I am just focused on what I am doing and learning from my mistakes and trying to get where I am meant to be.”