‘Dynamite’ Daniel Dubois is on course to wallop Anthony Joshua, says the have-a-go-heavyweight who’s shared a ring with both.
Dubois did what Joshua couldn’t do at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday night – and knocked game Welshman Dorian Darch off his feet.
Job done.
Bring on 2018. pic.twitter.com/I97WQ7b4EO
— Daniel Dubois (@DynamiteDubois) December 10, 2017
The referee waved the fight off in the second round after Darch had been dropped for a fourth time by the 20 year-old Londoner.
Joshua also stopped Darch in two rounds early in his career and according to Darch, Dubois could have the beating of the IBF and WBA heavyweight champion.
“Dubois was quicker and more accurate,” said the 33 year old, “and had he had me over, but not buzzed.
“I could have carried on.
“Joshua was a much bigger presence and had me out on my feet.
“Dubois has six or seven more fights and it will be a great fight (with Joshua). If Joshua doesn’t lose some weight, I go with Dubois.”
Promoter Frank Warren did tell The Daily Telegraph recently that a fight between Dubois and Joshua could be only a year away.
But after the Darch demolition, he rather played down the comparison between Dubois and Joshua, while at the same time making a point or two about his fighter’s potential.
Joshua, he reminded BT Sport viewers, is eight years older than Dubois and turned over as the Olympic champion and World Championship silver medallist.
In contrast, Dubois ditched his amateur vest at just 19 with only a handful of senior bouts behind him – and he’s putting away opponents just as well as Joshua did at the start of his professional career.
Warren admits Dubois “needs experience” – and matching him could prove to be tough.
“Daniel needs to be tested and looked after at the same time,” said Richie Woodhall, who worked with Dubois when he was with the Great Britain amateur set up – and has watched all his pro fights from ringside as an analyst for BT Sport.
“It’s not an easy job.
“They need to find opponents who can take a clean shot from him – and come back at him. Opponents like Dave Allen and Tom Little, experienced fighters with good chins, will show us if Daniel is the real deal – and I’m sure he is.
“The basics are there, the balance, the jab and the right hand, and the shots he is hitting people with would put most heavyweights away.
“We were always working on his jab and right hand in the gym and they are the punches that are working for him now.
“I’m not surprised he’s doing so well in the pros and because he’s so young and has time on his side, if he’s brought on in the right way, I’m sure he will fight for the world title at some stage.
“He needs to keep working hard in the gym, keep his feet on the ground and stay hungry.”
‘Stay Hungry’ has been Joshua’s mantra from the start of his professional career and the signs are that with father David heavily involved, Dubois will stay in the gym.
“Daniel has always trained hard,” said Woodhall, “and he needs to keep that focus.”
The Darch fight was significant because for the first time in his pro career, Dubois showed he can keep his composure when opponents are swinging back at him.
Darch kept launching all-or-nothing right hands, but Dubois kept his chin down, his hands up, neatly half stepped in and out of range and when he let his hands go, the punches were short, accurate and powerful.
He has now won all six pro fights inside two rounds and Steve Bunce said after his latest whirlwind win: “He is the best 20 year-old heavyweight since Mike Tyson – and he was the best 20 year-old heavyweight ever.”
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