Daniel Dubois is a fighter on the rebuild, having bounced back from his well documented 2020 British title loss to Joe Joyce by picking up the WBA regular title against Trevor Bryan, which he successfully defended (just) against Kevin Lerena last December.
Dubois’ loss to Joyce came in the tenth round, after he took a knee and elected to allow the referee to count him out and bring his first stoppage defeat as a professional.
However, heavyweight contender Martin Bakole has claimed on Sky Sports that he has in fact stopped ‘DDD’ on two occasions when the pair have sparred.
“Daniel Dubois is the fight I want. I’ve sparred him twice and I stopped him twice in sparring. He knows that. If we fight, I think I stop him in the first or second round.”
“I’m calling him out and I want him to be ready for me. I want that fight, I can’t wait. People are hiding because they don’t want to fight me because i made the mistake from sparring them in the gym.”
Bakole is ranked #1 by the WBA, so the Congo native may get the chance to replicate the alleged behind closed doors feats in a fully fledged fight in the not too distant future.
As for now, his sights will be fully focused on the man he faces on April 22nd – ‘The Ukrainian Hulk,’ Igor Shevadzutski.
It will be Bakole’s first outing under the Boxxer banner, having signed with the promotional outfit following a career best win over Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka last year.
Trainer Billy Nelson has repeatedly stated Bakole is amongst the very best in the blue ribbon division, so let’s hope 2023 is the year he gets the opportunity to prove it.
As for Dubois, he is next in line to face Oleksandr Usyk after talks with Tyson Fury for the undisputed crown fell apart.