Daniel Dubois

It’s so weird yet a bit endearing how Dubois needs his father to be visibly present in the corner and ringside for him to bring his A-game. That was a good call from Warren to insist on his dad being there.

I like Dubois, don’t see how anyone can dislike him. But I think he’s limited and won’t get any better. Beating the likes of Hrgovic are probably his summit in boxing. He gets smoked out early by Joshua.

 

Pleased for him, comes across a really nice lad. Keeps going for the big fights and he’s developed a bit of a dry sense of humour.

 

The timing is right for him though. He’s 26, Joshua is nearly 35, Fury is nearly 36 and Usyk is 37. In a couple of years they won’t be around and there isn’t really anyone coming through.

 

He deserves credit for this. Many a young boxer would sit back for a year or two and pick off what they can until an opportunity arises when everyone is passed it or there’s nobody left. A bit like when Wilder came to the fore. But Dubois is out there fighting some big names, I think his heart was rightly questioned in the Joyce fight but that stick has probably elevated him a bit. Right now I don’t think he’s on AJ’s level but he’s got plenty of time to improve.

 

He's still young for a heavyweight.

Future looks bright.

Showed a lot of heart and stamina (for his size) last night. Those losses against Joyce and Usyk might have taught him good lessons on mentality.

 

His still too easy to land big shots on. He comes to fight and I respect that but AJ wouldnt be so reckless like Hrgovic and would catch and counter stopping Dubois within 6 rounds.

 

Exactly this.
Even though he is limited he has time on his side and will be the best heavyweight around in next few years.

Even if he fights Joshua and loses he will come again.

 

I doubted his heart after his performances against Joyce and Usyk, but after the fight against Miller he seems to have turned a corner in that regard, and he showed a lot of grit against Hrgovic. With Usyk, Fury, Joshua and Wilder etc in their mid to late thirties the heavyweight landscape will clear up soon and there is no reason that Dubois, at 26, can't grab a belt and have at least a few defences. However if he fights Joshua later in the year I feel like that may be a bit early for him; I think he would be better off maintaining his momentum against a few more contenders before going up against Joshua.

 

I think he needs to get to AJ before AJ gets to him.

Dubois is very, very hittable and Hrgovic couldn't miss
One thing AJ has is big power, so doubt Dubois could stand up to it.

Either way I can't see the fight lasting long

 

Really pleased for Dubois, but still can’t get passed the fact that every single knockdown suffered in his career has been a knee. I can see an AJ fight resembling Ngannou, Ben Davison speaks highly of Dubois and Don Charles so I think the plan will be to get him out of there quick.

 

Looks like with his dad in the corner the skys the limit. Where he'd throw it in before seems his dad gives him second thoughts about doing it.

 

I'm happy for Don Charles aswell. I've met him a few times, he's a nice guy. Glad to see him back on the heavyweight scene.

 

Yeah seems a cracking fella. Did well with Del as well.

 

Outside the ring he is immensely likeable (let's put down his comment about Joyce's mother to an ill-advised attempt to spice up a fight, and I'd like to believe that was how it was taken, so I'm not going to get offended on behalf of them). BUT, inside the ring, I find him very difficult to like. He is an extremely dirty fighter who has been getting A LOT of help from British officials. He is constantly breaking the rules and everyone looks the other way (I can only assume due to his nationality, promotional ties, and outside ring persona).

His last four fights:
Kevin Lerena. The time-keeper ends the round early when Dubois is in trouble. Howard Foster then allows Dubois to finish a combination after the bell, and waves off the fight with Lerena hurt but on his feet. An obvious British screw job.
Oleksandr Usyk: Dubois declares he is going to do whatever it takes to win, headbutts, low blows, etc. Now that is fine, we can take it as just bravado, except he peppered Usyk with low blows throughout the fight. Everyone criticised the neutral referee for not allowing Dubois to cheat basically.
Jerrell Miller: Lows blows and headbutts galore, but Miller is a rough and ready fighter, and knew his role in that fight. But it was more evidence of Dubois doing whatever it takes to get the job done (legal or illegal).
Filip Hrgovic: DAZN has actually been removing videos of this from the internet, but Dubois caught Hrgovic with 20+ "accidental" headbutts. It is suggested that the referee at first said the initial cuts were caused by the head, with it being alleged that he was overuled by a BBBoC official---it was changed to being due to a punch (DAZN commentary also initially thought it was from the head). The headbutts made a mess of Hrgovics face. There could easily have been point deductions. And IF the fight had gone to the cards Daniel takes an L. Hrgovic has a nasty habit of rabbit punching, so, meh, whatever, right?

BUT There is an obvious pattern here. It will be interesting to see if he would be allowed to get away with such tactics against say a Joshua or a Fury.

So while I commend him for coming back from adversity on a personal level, and like his outside ring persona, in the ring... he is really ****ing dirty

 

Triple DDD fought dirty to beat Hrgovic, but he did catch him with a few punches to cut up his face. The Croatian guy didn't have any power to deter him from leading in with that head ram. Hrgovic reminds me of Pulev, good long range fighter, but rubbish on the inside. Dubois would be better with a defensive strategy, like the one he beat Miller with, if he fights Zang or Joshua.