Daniel Dubois is a man of few words, with an occasional affection for the figurative. When he sat down with The Independent in May, before fighting Filip Hrgovic, Dubois said: “I’ve got to take it away from him.” Whatever “it” was, Dubois indeed took it. Now, addressing a larger group of journalists, the 27-year-old speaks similarly about Anthony Joshua. “I need to take him back to that dark place, make him break down.”
Dubois is talking about the more precarious moments in Joshua’s career: knockdowns by Wladimir Klitschko and Andy Ruiz Jr, exasperating exchanges with Oleksandr Usyk. Against Klitschko, in the same Wembley Stadium that hosts Saturday’s fight, Joshua rallied to retain the IBF heavyweight title – the belt that Dubois defends this weekend. But against Ruiz, there was no comeback; against Usyk, there was no way through in 2021 or 2022.
Dark places, indeed, but which Dubois has also visited. For Dubois, they were boxing rings shared with Joe Joyce in 2020, Kevin Lerena in 2022, and Usyk last summer. Joyce exploded the orbital bone of “Dynamite Daniel”, leaving the younger man kneeling and beaten – his faultless record suddenly faulty. Lerena put down an injured Dubois three times in round one, only for the Briton to somehow stop his opponent two rounds later. Against Usyk, there were familiar “quitter” jibes when Dubois was stopped by a jab, the same shot that secured Joyce’s win.
Denne historien er fra September 20, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 20, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Extremism Of Trump's Pick For Intelligence Chief
Tulsi Gabbard made the journey from anti-war Democrat to Moscow-friendly Maga warrior. Rich Hall looks at how
Will Labour Party Mps Get Behind Pm's Welfare Blitz?
Labour's blitz on benefits comes with some eye-catching language from the prime minister, announced in The Mail on Sunday. He has warned of Britain's "bulging benefits bill blighting our society" as he vows to cut the £137bn cost.
England hammer Japan to end vexing autumn on high
After a November of frets and frustration came a chance for fun and frolics for England.
Verstappen pulls up next to F1 elite with his fourth title
Dutch driver seals championship under lights of Las Vegas
Treasure's chest! Salah stars for Reds in comeback win
Liverpool moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday as Mohamed Salah scored twice to help them come from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s.
Amorim kicks-off United role with lacklustre draw
Ruben Amorim can at least remind himself that Manchester United’s best managers have had worse starts.
Have I got time to get a new passport for trip to Europe?
Q My passport expires in July 2025. Is the Passport Office doing renewals quickly these days? If not, when is the best time? I intend to go to Europe before March.
Far-right populist leads in Romanian presidential vote
A far-right populist took the lead in Romania's presidential election yesterday and will probably face leftist prime minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks, an outcome that rocked the country's political landscape.
Three held after prominent Israeli rabbi killed in Dubai
Emirati police question men as Iran denies any involvement
Lab test monkeys are flown to UK 'injured and terrified'
Monkeys flown into the UK for laboratory testing were so badly injured that their crates were smeared with blood, photographs suggest.