Daniel Dubois has a huge test against Jarell Miller this weekend and one Hall Of Famer has some words of wisdom for him.
Dubois is on the rebuild after stepping up to contend for his first world title back in August, where he came unstuck against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
He was knocked out in the ninth round having scored what was judged to be an illegal knockdown himself earlier in the fight. It’s his second loss following on from defeat against Joe Joyce earlier in his career.
This weekend he is part of the huge Day of Reckoning card with the likes of Anthony Joshua versus Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder versus Joseph Parker.
His opponent is the giant American Miller, most famous for having failed serval drug tests in the run-up to his fight with Anthony Joshua in New York in June 2019.
Writing in The Mirror, former world champion Barry McGuigan reckons it’s a make-or-break fight for Dubois and worries about his stamina.
“A third defeat next week could mean the end of his world title ambitions. Though Dubois has the punch to trouble any, there are questions about his stamina and mentality that were exposed in the defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce.”
He said Dubois needs to believe in himself to get the job done this weekend.
“Stamina and conditioning are vital for Dubois. He also has to believe in himself. There must be lingering doubts after the defeats to Joyce and Usyk.
“In the final seconds of both bouts he seemed to doubt himself. It’s the hurt business. All fighters take punishment. You have to be able to absorb it and battle on.
“It’s not meant to be easy and if you don’t believe in yourself you have no chance under pressure. For Dubois this fight is with himself as much as Miller. And he has to win it.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn agrees that a loss might spell the end for the 26-year-old Londoner.