Daniel Dubois has been voted Best Young Boxer of the Year by the members of the Boxing Writers’ Club and becomes the first heavyweight to win the award since Herbie Hide in 1993.
The 22-year-old will bid to claim his seventh pro title in 13 fights when he takes on Ebenezer Tetteh for the Commonwealth title at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday September 27. He has previously won the WBC Youth, Southern Area, English, WBO European and Global, along with the British title he memorably won by defeating domestic rival Nathan Gorman at the O2 Arena in July.
Now recognised as the up and coming force in the division, Dubois is added to a roll of honour where 27 of the former winners have proceeded to become world champions.
The Geoffrey Simpson Award for Best Young Boxer of the Year was first presented in 1951, the first recipient being Randolph Turpin, followed by others who went on to become legends of the sport including Terry Downes, Howard Winstone, Ken Buchanan, John H Stracey, John Conteh, Barry McGuigan, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and George Groves.
“I am genuinely thrilled to be voted Best Young Boxer by the Boxing Writers’ Club,” reacted Dubois to the news. “There were many strong contenders for the award and I am honoured that my progress in the sport is commended by the winning of such a prestigious honour.
“I know I am following in the footsteps of many, many greats and it is my intention to emulate their achievements.
“I will accept the award on behalf of my team because this has been a team effort and I would like to thank Martin and Tony Bowers and everyone at the Peacock Gym, along with my promoter Frank Warren for successfully guiding my career so far.”
Hall of Fame promoter Warren always believed he had signed a prospect who would take the heavyweight division by storm: “I have been convinced since day one that we were onto something very special with Daniel and everything he has done up to now has confirmed that belief.
“He is an outstanding young talent and a very fine individual who possesses all the ingredients to reach the very top and stay there for a long time.”