American heavyweight contender Michael ‘The Bounty’ Hunter is re-emerging in the heavyweight rankings after a spell of prolonged activity and is now eyeing up a route to challenging the champions of the division. With that in mind, Hunter offered his prediction ahead of the next heavyweight title affair – where Daniel Dubois defends his IBF world title against two-time titlist Anthony Joshua.
Dubois suffered a second career defeat when he last challenged for world honours, taking a knee and accepting a ninth-round knockout loss against Oleksandr Usyk in Poland. However, since then ‘Triple D’ has silenced his doubters with back-to-back career-best knockout victories against Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic – with the latter earning him the IBF interim title.
That belt was then upgraded to the full IBF world title and put a target on Dubois’ head, one that the resurgent Anthony Joshua has taken notice of.
Now, the British duo will go toe-to-toe in a third all-British heavyweight world title affair in as many years in a stylistic battle that seems inevitable to render the judges useless and end inside the distance.
Speaking with Boxing Social, Hunter offered his verdict on the contest, where he detailed how Dubois’ defence, or lack of, will likely cost him both the fight and his world champion status.
“I think that Anthony Joshua knocks him out, that’s just how I look at it. One – Daniel is strong, he has a lot of fortitude and will power, his whole family is into boxing and he has some pride to uphold but I think that he got hit way too much in his last fight with Hrgovic.
“He was using his head to block it the right-hand, which I thought was a horrible game plan, I don’t think that he can do that with Anthony Joshua. Anthony Joshua hits way harder, he is way more crisp and he hits you with more speed – he is sharp when it comes to those punches, I have been in the ring with him.
“I think that Anthony Joshua knocks him out, I think Daniel Dubois puts up a good fight but at the end of it I think Anthony will get the victory. It is a good fight for him.”
Dubois-Joshua will take place on September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London, topping a bill that features a plethora of British talent and will likely go down as one of the greatest cards to ever be staged in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Michael Hunter has skyrocketed to third in the WBA world rankings since returning from a two-year hiatus. A win over fellow American Cassius Chaney back in June showed that the 36-year-old former cruiserweight still has plenty to offer the heavyweight scene and it appears as though a big fight is around the corner, as Hunter becomes the hunted because of his much-desired position with the WBA.
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