Article by Sean Crose
At one point, the boxing world was on edge as Oleksandr Usyk, the skilled Ukrainian boxer holding multiple heavyweight titles and who had beaten Anthony Joshua twice, was in agony after a blow from Daniel Dubois put him down. The referee ruled it as a body shot, giving Usyk additional time to recover. Things took a curious turn, and eventually, Usyk managed to defeat Dubois a few rounds later, further frustrating Dubois and his team.
Post-fight, Dubois insisted, “I didn’t believe it was a low blow,” feeling like he had been unfairly denied a victory. True or not, Dubois has another chance to shine in the heavyweight scene. His upcoming match against Joshua for the IBF heavyweight title promises both fighters a shot at greatness. Dubois earned this shot by bouncing back from the Usyk loss and securing wins against Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic.
Conquering Joshua will be no walk in the park for Dubois. Joshua has shown improvement post his losses to Usyk and is widely recognized as one of the top boxer-punchers in the division. With his eyes on redemption, Joshua is determined to reclaim his former titles by outperforming Dubois on September 21st at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Yet, Dubois doesn’t see himself merely as a stepping stone for Joshua but as a serious contender. He is resolute in proving his worth by knocking out Joshua and quieting the naysayers. Dubois views the upcoming fight as a pivotal moment that could signify a changing of the guard in the heavyweight class.
“He’s been the king for a long time,” Dubois said concerning Joshua, “and now is my time.”
