Former WBC Cruiserweight Champion, Tony Bellew, has highlighted the difference between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, after the latter’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
In the aftermath of Dubois’ failed world title shot against the Ukrainian many people believe the young heavyweight quit by waiting for the referee to count him out. Some have compared this to when Joshua was waived off by the ref against Andy Ruiz Jr in one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history.
Speaking to safebettingsites.com Bellew says there is no comparison to be made and referenced Dubois first defeat against Joe Joyce where he also took a knee.
“Have we all forgotten that Daniel Dubois watched the referee count to ten whilst on one knee? It’s not the first time he’s done it. It’s not unfair [to label him a quitter] because against Joyce he fractured an orbital bone and he watched the referee count to ten whilst on one knee, and then when the referee gets to ten, he gets straight up. And he’s done it again now.”
“The first time you spew it is the hardest, and after the first time it only gets easier and easier and I’m sorry to say Dubois has spewed it twice.”
“People say well ‘why didn’t you say that about AJ against Andy Ruiz?’, AJ never quit, he was just completely exhausted and spent. He didn’t sit on one knee and watch the referee count to ten. The referee stopped it and saved him.”
What’s next for Dubois is unknown, but at just 25-years-old there is plenty of time for ‘DDD’ to rebuild and come again. Meanwhile, it seems ‘AJ’ is most likely to face heavy hitting Deontay Wilder in his next outing.