Daniel Dubois vs Kevin Johnson on Oct 6

By Boxing News - 09/18/2018 - Comments

Image: Daniel Dubois vs Kevin Johnson on Oct 6

Kevin Johnson has new motivation going into his upcoming heavyweight clash with Daniel Dubois.

The boxing veteran shared the news that his father had died just a couple of weeks ago, but vows to continue his preparations for the fight and will use his family bereavement as fuel and cause the upset by defeating his largely fancied opponent.

“It’s given me so much renewed hunger to win this.” He says, alongside his new training strategies which Johnson has included in his day-to-day training regime. The American believes we will see ‘a new Kevin Johnson’ on October 6th.

The former world title challenger has shared the ring with some of the recent best in the heavyweight division including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Kubrat Pulev and of course a world title tilt at then WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko in 2009.

Now 21 years old, Dubois is quickly becoming the biggest prospect on the heavyweight scene. The young London fighter has knocked out all eight of his opponents to date.

“He’s made a good start” admitted Johnson.

He continued: “But it’s a big transition to make, especially for a heavyweight. There is always a danger that they haven’t seen what an experienced, veteran fighter can bring to them. Let’s see what happens when he steps into that ring against me.

“He’s going to feel the pressure and how does he react to that? You only know whether you can cope with going up levels once you’re in them. It’s a hard business, and many young prospects have faltered because they find they can’t make the next step. He doesn’t know he will make it, he can’t know!”

The Time Is Now’ is headlined by Jack Catterall v Ohara Davies. Leicester’s own, Lyon Woodstock defends his WBO European Super-Featherweight title against Archie Sharp. Heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois takes on former world title challenger Kevin Johnson. Olympian and double gold medallist Nicola Adams will be fighting Isabel Millan for the Interim WBO World Female Flyweight Title and Leicester’s British Super-Featherweight champion Sam Bowen also feature on a major night of boxing televised live on BT Sport.

Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200 and are available to purchase from Eventbrite and Ticketmaster.

Kevin Johnson warns Daniel Dubois ahead of their clash on October 6th – “This is a new Kevin Johnson”

Heavyweight veteran and former World title challenger Kevin Johnson has warned upcoming opponent Daniel Dubois he will be facing ‘a new Kevin Johnson’ when they clash on October 6th at the Morningside Arena, Leicester.

Despite being at the age of 38 years old and over 15 years into his professional boxing campaign, it hasn’t stopped Johnson (32-10-1) from changing his regime and taking a different approach to finding ways to succeed within the sport.

“I’ve been doing strategic work with Richard Dean in the UK, Gary Clark in the US, and Christian Hiller in Germany. I’m experienced and am working in new ways. The mental side is a huge part of it for me now. That’s Richard Dean’s expertise right there, I’ve never worked with anyone better.” said the American.

Johnson’s boxing career has seen him step into the ring a total of 43 times and he has faced some of best heavyweights the division has had to offer in recent years including Tyson Fury and a world title challenge against Vitali Klitschko; something which Johnson believes could prove to be the difference between himself and Dubois (8-0, 8KO) on fight night:

“Look at the facts, he’s fought no-one with anywhere near my experience.” explained Johnson.

He continued: “It’s a massive step up for him. I’ve been in with everybody. He will really have to learn fast while he’s in the fight itself, or he’ll have a bad night.”

Daniel Dubois, who is celebrating his 21st Birthday today, has had a perfect start to his professional boxing career by defeating all eight of his opponents by knockout. Despite what will most certainly be a step up in level for the young heavyweight prospect, he is full of confidence he will beat the veteran American on October 6th.

“I’m happy for him that he thinks that!” chuckled Johnson.

“But, has he accumulated enough skills, abilities to mix at this level? Does he have skills at the next level?

“He definitely will not know until he steps in there. He will feel uncertain, no matter what he says, or what people tell him. He won’t have seen what I will bring. There will be points in that fight where he will feel very unsure, uncertain and unclear, and that is a fact.

“I lost my father last week, and that gives me so much renewed hunger to win this.

“To reiterate; Dubois hasn’t seen anything like me, and the world hasn’t seen anything like the me who has done lots of mental prep.

“The me who has done lots of physical prep and the me who has just lost his father. This is a new Kevin Johnson, but with lots of experience. I really want this, I will be bringing my A-Game.”

‘The Time Is Now’ is headlined by Jack Catterall v Ohara Davies. Leicester’s own, Lyon Woodstock defends his WBO European Super-Featherweight title against Archie Sharp. Heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois takes on former world title challenger Kevin Johnson. Olympian and double gold medallist Nicola Adams will be fighting Isabel Millan for the Interim WBO World Female Super-Flyweight Title and Leicester’s British Super-Featherweight champion Sam Bowen also feature on a major night of boxing televised live on BT Sport.

Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200 and are available to purchase from Eventbrite and Ticketmaster.