Newly-crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois is set for a salivating acid test against Anthony Joshua next month, as he seeks to prove to both himself and the rest of the world that he is worthy of sitting upon the heavyweight throne. Ahead of the bout, former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has offered his verdict on how the contest will play out and his prediction may surprise a few.
Dubois bounced back from a stoppage defeat to Oleksandr Usyk with a career-best final-round knockout win against Jarrell Miller – answering any doubts surrounding his grit and heart with a phenomenal response when it was needed most.
Following that victory, a confident Dubois continued to impress when he upset the odds to halt heavyweight bogeyman Filip Hrgovic back in June, winning the IBF interim title in the process.
That belt was later upgraded to the full world title when Oleksandr Usyk vacated his IBF strap and ‘Triple D’ now finds himself involved in a salivating domestic dust-up with ‘AJ’, hoping to make a first defence of his world title.
In an interview with Instant Casino, Tony Bellew applauded the efforts and improvement of Dubois, crediting the decision to switch to train under Don Charles as a key reason for his recent success..
“There’s no way of dressing this up – he quit against Joe Joyce and he quit against Oleksandr Usyk as well. There’s no other way of getting around that but the fact that he’s been able to take them losses, take them Ls and come back, it speaks volumes.
“Going to Don Charles helped reset his mentality. So I give Don Charles all the credit in the world and I give Daniel Dubois all the credit in the world.”
However, Bellew was less complimentary when it came to analysing Dubois’ chances against Joshua, explaining why he thinks Joshua will get the job done inside two rounds.
“Daniel must think I don’t like him. I think he’s a lovely kid and I think he’s a vastly improved fighter. The only thing is that everything he’s good at, Anthony Joshua is better. I’ll be amazed if it gets to round three, I’ll be shocked if it gets past three rounds but if it does go past three then Daniel’s durability, endurance and fitness will really test Joshua. Make no mistake, Anthony Joshua is a better athlete, a better boxer, all that. In every department, he’s a little bit better.
“The only thing we are yet to see is, can he endure the punishment Daniel Dubois can? We haven’t seen that because no one’s been able to give that punishment out to Anthony Joshua without receiving something back. Daniel Dubois is going to be there in the firing line, he’s going to be there to be hit and I think Anthony Joshua will show him.”
Joshua-Dubois takes place on September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London, as ‘AJ’ bids to become just the fifth three-time heavyweight champion in the history of the division.
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