John Fury has had his say on the controversy around Daniel Dubois’ world title fight with Oleksandr Usyk last month, and believes the Brit was let down by his team.
A Dubois’ right to the body sent Usyk crashing to the canvas in the fifth round at the Tarczynski Arena, but referee Luis Pabon ruled the shot low and allowed the Ukrainian over three minutes to recover – a decision that has since split opinion across the boxing world.
And Fury blasted Dubois’ team in a recent interview with Rob Moore, and claimed he’d have “invaded the ring” had he been in ‘DDD’s corner that night.
“If I’d have been looking after Daniel Dubois, he’d be the heavyweight champion of the world – because I’d have stopped that fight there and then.”
“I’d have said, ‘No, we’ve won. We’ve won on a knockout, we can’t knock him out twice.’ I’d have ended the fight there and then. But they’re rookies aren’t they. They’re rookies at their own game. They think they’re clever, but they’re not.”
“I’d have had a massive protest, we’d all have invaded in the ring and gone mental. If they’d have been sharper, they’d have saved Dubois embarrassment. Because people say he quit later on, he’d have been saved all that.”
“He’d always have been remembered for dropping Usyk heavily. He’d have been remembered on a bright note, instead of a quitter. Because the team don’t know enough.”
Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has since lodged an official appeal to the WBA regarding the low blow incident in the hope that a rematch be ordered or his charge is reinstated as mandatory challenger.
However, both these outcomes look to be unlikely in the extreme and the young Londoner is likely have to start another rebuilding process if he hopes to challenge for a world title again in the future.