Daniel Dubois can’t wait to prove he belongs among the best heavyweights on the planet, buoyed by a fresh start with new trainer Mark Tibbs.
The 23-year-old Londoner was rapidly approaching world title level before he was upset by an inspired Joe Joyce last November. Joyce’s rapier jab caused serious damage to the left eye of Dubois, including a fractured orbital bone and retinal bleed, forcing the Greenwich banger to take a knee and stay down for the full count.
That surprise loss, whilst leading on the official cards, saw Dubois forfeit a lofty world ranking with the WBO and his credibility in the eyes of some ultra-critical observers. But with his injury healing and his resolve bolstered by a new training team, Dubois feels he will have the final word.
“When I come back, I will see those people and maybe even get in the ring with some of them, to show me how much of a quitter I am. I have to set things right, I need to iron out some flaws but I don’t think I am too far off,” Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) told The Queensberry Lockdown.
“It has made me want it even more and made me stronger. I won’t let this break me. I will train even harder and be even more disciplined. It was a massive setback for me and I have to take on board the positives and negatives. Now I want to vent my frustrations out in the gym and get myself back on course. I want to start fresh again, like I have just turned professional again.
“You have to feel that pain to understand it. I felt that final shot come and I felt my eye go and took the knee. I didn’t even think about the fight then, I took a knee, maybe it was inexperience, maybe I panicked, it just happened at that moment. The pain happened and I was discombobulating, I panicked and took a knee. But I am not going to let this hold me back, I want to come back and improve.
“I am moving on now with Mark and Jimmy Tibbs as my trainers and I think their experience will really help me, moving forward in my career. I want a fresh start and hopefully they can show me things. Mark and Jimmy are deep in boxing and have been at world title level with people like Billy Joe Saunders and Dillian Whyte.”
Previous trainer Martin Bowers will retain his position as the manager of Dubois.