By Marcus Richardson: Promoter Frank Warren says he thinks his heavyweight 20-year-old Daniel Dubois (6-0, 6 KOs) already hits harder than IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), and he has more potential than him.
That’s quite a compliment by Warren, because Joshua is 8 years older than the 6’5”, 240-pound Dubois, and he comes from a far superior amateur background. Joshua won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London. The gold medal was controversial with many fans believing Joshua should have lost 2 of his fights during the London Olympics, but he still made the matches close enough for him to be given the wins in front of his hometown boxing fans.
“I think he punches harder than any British heavyweight I’ve ever seen,” said Warren to ESPN.com. “We’re talking harder than Anthony Joshua, Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, all of them. In terms of potential, I think he’s in front of anyone I’ve ever had. I think he’s in front of all of them at this stage of his career, he could win the British title tomorrow.”
Dubois is said to have dropped Joshua in sparring in the past. That’s an accomplishment if it’s true. However, Dubois dropping Joshua in sparring doesn’t mean that he could do it in an actual fight. If Dubois can do that in an actual fight, he would really make a big name for him, especially if he wins.
Dubois is probably at least 3 years away from a title shot against Joshua if he holds onto his heavyweight titles. It also depends on whether Warren wants to move Dubois quickly or not. If he has Dubois challenge Joshua at 23, that’s a pretty early age to be having him fight for a world title. If Warren waits until Dubois is 25 or 26 before having him fight for a world title, Joshua may not be at the top at that point. Anything is possible in the heavyweight division.
Joshua could lose to Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in 2018. He might even lose to WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. There are always young heavyweights coming up that could get to Joshua before Dubois does.
The sparring rumors about Dubois knocking Joshua down stem from a sparring session that took place in early 2016. When asked, Dubois doesn’t deny that he knocked Joshua down.
Dubois has looked very good recently in stopping the following heavyweights:
• Dorian Darch in 2 rounds TKO
• AJ Carter in 1 round TKO
• Mauricio Barragan in 2 rounds KO
• David Howe in 1 round KO
• Blaise Mendouo in 1 round TKO
• Marcus Kelly in 1st round TKO
Warren would do well if he put Dubois in against the British heavyweight champion Sam Sexton (24-3, 9 KOs) in 2018. Matching Dubois against Sexton this year would be a good test for him. Sexton has a lot of experience, and good punching power. The hype train would be going at high speed if Dubois knockout Sexton the same way that he’s been doing the other heavyweights he’s been facing.