Wembley Stadium: Riyadh Season; Matchroom Boxing and Queensbury Boxing
Not as big as Buster Douglas flatlining Mike Tyson but, in the United Kingdom this one was monstrous. And it might lead to a new face for UK boxing. All because Daniel Dubois flipped the script tearing through Anthony Joshua to retain his IBF heavyweight strap. And as he is reaching his potential it silences doubters.
The main reason for that is age. He is just 27, far younger than both Joshua and Tyson Fury. So conceivably he will still be fighting eight to ten years from now. Joshua and Fury will be long gone. Plus Dubois has undergone a metamorphosis. Where he once questioned himself, the focus he showed fighting Jarrell Miller and Philip Hrgovic helped grow his confidence.
He came into this fight wearing all black, not that it makes a difference, but a little Tyson-esque. And there was gamesmanship Joshua played making him, the defending champion walk first. And in that walk he had a zen-like calm. From the get go he was fast and sharp, pressuring the former unified champion. In coming forward he not only let his hands fly, but he was not biting on any of Joshua’s feints. That right hand and left hook were crisper than ever. It was the best “A” game he could of had. Joshua just never got the chance to breathe.
The only reason the fight lasted to 59-seconds of round-five before the flatlining, was Joshua’s heart. But mistakes were plenty. Back peddling, tried to be over technical with someone throwing, and he kept his hands low and chin high. That’s why there’s really no other way to phrase this fight besides a whitewashed mercking. Dubois landed 91 of 230, while Joshua connected on just 60 of 139. And with the exception of a shot in the fourth and a stinging body shot in the fifth, Dubois walked through them all.
Reaching Potential Silences Doubters… For Now
Frank Warren through it out there about another fight before Christmas. And he may want one, however; Turki Al-Sheikh might throw some Saudi money to keep him on the sidelines till after Fury – Oleksandr Usyk 2. But how would he fair against either one.
Dubois bracketbusted everyone’s theory that the bigger better athlete would beat him. However, Fury’s size is just so hard to deal with. Especially with “The Gypsy King” enjoying dirty boxing and laying on you. Dubois will also need to watch out for upper cuts in close. Something Joshua landed. But Fury does have gas tank issues, despite a solid chin still. Usyk is the more intriguing fight. He’s super technical and makes some of the best in-fight changes. But his chin has been questioned. Add in that Dubois wants payback for his loss.
Dubois, the unassuming quiet away from the ring fighter is about to have a major light put on him. This is where we will see what he’s made of. But as his confidence grows the UK may get the undisputed champ they’ve wanted since Lennox Lewis. Just from one not on radar from day one.
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