Wilder trains hitting a 400 pound heavybag

I think they took it because it was a big "British/London derby fight", against a fighter with a world title (Joshua by contrast was beltless, less to lose, already having three losses too) who was perceived as very vulnerable, hence Dubois was a 30-70 underdog. It wasn't just that he lost to Joyce and Usyk, it was how he lost: quitting on jabs. Going down three times in round 1 to a 3rd rate cruiser in Lerena. Never having fought a dangerous puncher, and still having 6 KD's against him in 23 fights, and 2 TKO losses. It seemed to pass risk-reward, far more so than the Wilder fight did, which Hearn wanted to "marinate" to the greatest extent, or possibly avoid entirely.

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It was a huge mistake, but so was fighting late sub Ruiz as a replacement for Miller, or not dropping the WBO to avoid Usyk. If Hearn knew that Joshua would lose those fights, he'd have played things very differently.