Johnny Nelson believes that if there is ‘quit’ in a fighter’s DNA it can’t be reversed.
The former cruiserweight world champion turned pundit famously lost his first three fights as a professional before beating the odds and progressing to the top level.
Now an outspoken commentator, Nelson keeps a keen eye on the UK scene.
One of the biggest opportunities coming up for a British fighter is Daniel Dubois’ challenge for Oleksandr Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles.
The 25-year-old bounced back from a defeat to Joe Joyce to get himself into the mandatory position, but it’s that performance that Nelson believes exposed a fatal flaw.
Speaking on Stamina For Sale, Nelson said there was quit in Dubois’ DNA.
“This is a hard thing to say, and I like Daniel Dubois, but you know me, I say it how it is and I might get shut down for saying it. When you see quit in a fighter, you know it’s there. Now we’ll see it but we might not say it because it’s like throwing a man under the bus. Are you telling me you’ve not seen quit in Daniel Dubois? Be honest.
If you’re a fighter and you’re getting in the ring and there’s quit there, it’s in your DNA, it’s always in your DNA. At this level it’s always there. You either lose it in the amateurs or it’s always in your DNA. And if he’s put under that amount of pressure getting a lick, lick, lick, the quit is gonna appear and mash him up.”
Joyce’s ramrod jab closed the eye of Dubois during their heavyweight fight at Church House back in 2020, and the 25-year-old took a knee in the tenth to avoid more punishment.
Some saw the young man’s decision as good for his future in boxing – and reports afterwards suggested as much – but many others said he quit.
In his latest fight, Dubois showed the grit expected of him when he was dropped three times in the first round by former cruiserweight, Kevin Lerena. He would rise and win in the third by stoppage.
He’s facing a more elite former 200 pounder on August 26 though, and will have to dig deep to bring the belts back from Poland.