Daniel Dubois didn’t should dethrone anybody to turn into a world heavyweight champion, so he has one thing to show when he makes his first title defence earlier than one of many largest crowds in British boxing historical past.
If he efficiently defends his IBF belt on Saturday by beating fellow Briton Anthony Joshua in entrance of 96,000 followers at Wembley Stadium, Dubois would possibly simply remodel himself into boxing’s subsequent huge factor.
“I’m getting used to the concept I’m the world champion however I believe I must legitimise it by beating AJ,” Dubois advised The Related Press in an interview. “That’s the way in which I do it and cement my title, cement my legacy within the sport of boxing.”
The 27-year-old Dubois was awarded the belt in late June after then-undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine relinquished it.
He is aware of that almost all boxing followers – the British ones particularly – wish to see Joshua turn into a three-time champion to arrange a long-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury.
However the hard-punching Dubois – a South London native who has been boxing for the reason that age of seven – has plans of his personal.
“Make him stop, break him down, unleash hell on him,” Dubois stated of his technique for battle evening.
Nicknamed “Dynamite,” the six-foot-five-inch (1.95-metre) Dubois has had obstacles to beat on his path to Wembley.
He hopes to make the 34-year-old Joshua stop however Dubois himself needed to reply questions on quitting after he took a knee and was counted out within the tenth spherical in opposition to Joe Joyce in November 2020. That was his first skilled loss.
Dubois’ left eye had been swollen shut – there was an orbital bone fracture and nerve harm.
He bounced again by profitable 4 straight bouts to earn a title shot at Usyk final summer time. The battle was held in Poland, the place many Ukrainians have taken refuge due to the Russia-Ukraine battle.
With enormous assist from his compatriots, Usyk stopped Dubois within the ninth spherical. Boxing is rarely removed from controversy and this battle had its share: Dubois had dropped the champion within the fifth spherical however the referee dominated it a low blow and allowed Usyk a number of minutes to get better.
‘My time now’
Dubois responded to the loss in opposition to Usyk with two knockout victories. Regardless of being comfortably forward of 333-pound (151kg) Jarrell Miller, Dubois piled on the strain within the closing spherical, getting the stoppage within the closing seconds of the bout. Dubois bloodied Filip Hrgovic early and stopped the Croatian within the eighth spherical.
The spectacular win over Hrgovic in early June gave Dubois the “interim” title weeks earlier than Usyk relinquished the belt. It additionally means 20 of his 21 wins have come through knockouts. The one time he went to factors was six years in the past in his eighth skilled battle.
Again in 2017, it was then 27-year-old Joshua who spectacularly knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in a title battle at Wembley in entrance of 90,000 followers.
Dubois says it’s his flip.
“That is my time now, and I’m able to take it with each arms, present the world what I’m all about,” he stated, pointing to a Usyk rematch as his subsequent objective despite the fact that the Ukrainian has talked about returning to cruiserweight after his December 21 rematch with Tyson Fury.
He additionally desires to make his household proud. His father, Dave Dubois, raised 11 youngsters in a family the place sports activities and music dominated. Dubois says he doesn’t play any devices or sing, although. His youthful sister Caroline Dubois can also be a profitable professional boxer.
Formally, it’s the primary time they’ll sq. off however Dubois and Joshua had a much-debated sparring session a few decade in the past. It appears clear that Dubois caught Joshua – who two years earlier had gained gold for Britain on the London Olympics – with an excellent punch, however past that, it’s simply rumours. Promoter Frank Warren has stated that sparring session led him to signal Dubois.
“Sparring is sparring, it is a battle. It bears no relevance to in the present day,” Dubois stated. “It was good for me on the time, however I’m a brand new man, a brand new fighter now. I’ve put that behind me. I’m the person of the longer term.”
He suspects a lot of the crowd shall be on AJ’s aspect.
“They in all probability shall be overlooking me,” he stated. “It’s as much as me to show them incorrect.”
