BOGDAN DINU is determined to show Daniel Dubois that actions speak louder than words in their big fight.
The pair clash for the vacant WBA interim Heavyweight title at Telford International Centre on Saturday June 5, live on BT Sport.
Dinu (20-2, 16 KOs) who is ranked number two in the WBA world rankings has been stung after Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) said of him: “He’s a standard boxer, he’s not that good nor that terrible.”
The 6ft 5in Romanian who last boxed in October when he knocked out Frank Bluemie in two rounds snapped back: “It is easy to speak.
“Look at Daniel’s last fight against Joe Joyce. It is difficult when you’re in there and on the receiving end.
“He is talking before he has met me. As Mike Tyson says everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Dinu, 34, has only had six more professional fights than Daniel but is much more experienced.
Britain will be the fifth country he has boxed in as a professional having fought in Bulgaria, Canada, United States and his homeland since turning professional 13 years ago.
His two defeats came in high calibre company against current sparring partner Jarrell Miller and two-time world title challenger Kubrat Pulev who he lost against in the seventh round of a contest where the cards were level.
As an amateur he also win a bronze at the World Junior Championships and a silver at the European Junior Championships.
Dinu told the Unibet Lowdown: ‘Daniel is coming back after a loss and he needs experience. You do that with years of work.
“Daniel lost a tough war last time he boxed, but in my opinion he needs more experience. I have the experience.
“I don’t know if they have made a mistake (picking me). I am prepared, coming to win and it will be a war from the first round.
“I am not surprised he has picked me for his return. If you want to win titles then you must always take on good fighters on big shows.
“Daniel is a good fighter, but he needs to learn and have more fights. Good fights, not just against regular fighters who lose in the first round.”
Dinu believes the years he has given up travelling around the world improving his skills will make a difference against British hope, Dubois.
He added: “In my mind I didn’t lose any fight. They are experiences and I am well prepared to get into the big and world championship fights.
“Boxing is low level in Romania and I have made sacrifices. Now is my time and I am ready for the World Heavyweight championship
“It will mean a lot to beat Daniel and people will be proud of me. I will be the winner and then on to the next opponent.”
Bogdan Dinu training camp quotes for Daniel Dubois fight on June 5th
Heavyweight contender Bogdan Dinu is training hard in his hometown of Buzau, Romania, and getting some excellent sparring work from former foe Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller as he prepares to face Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois for the Interim WBA World Heavyweight Championship.
The 6′ 5″ WBA #2-rated Dinu (20-2. 16 KOs) will face the 6′ 5″ WBA #11-rated Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, on Saturday, June 5. An upset victory over the heavily hyped Dubois will put Dinu one step away from realizing his dream of becoming the first Romanian heavyweight champion of the world.*
Joining the 34-year-old Dinu camp is his brother George, co-trainer Ross Woolgrove and strength and conditioning coach Daniel Ortega. And this week, to provide world-class sparring is a well-known heavyweight contender and promotional stablemate Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, who stopped Dinu in four rounds in 2018. The pair have remained friends.
“I am training in my home city in my own gym,” explained Dinu between workouts. “I have everything I need here, and it’s going really good with Jarrell. He’s one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world. He puts on a lot of pressure, and that’s good for me to prepare for this fight. It’s an important fight, and I must win!”
Dinu says he’s working on a surprise for the vaunted 23-year-old Dubois, who was considered a red-hot prospect before coming up short against fellow undefeated Brit Joe Joyce last November for the WBC Silver, WBO International, EBU European, Commonwealth (British Empire), and BBBofC British Heavyweight Championships. In the press, pre-fight, Dubois has been promising to knock Dinu out and return to the fast track.
“I see a young heavyweight who likes to fight but has only faced easier opponents,” Dinu observed about Dubois. “His only tough fight was against Joe Joyce, and we saw what happened. You’ll see by the result of our fight that his big reputation is exaggerated. He’s promising to knock me out? He’s just saying words because he hasn’t met me yet. He will have a big surprise when he looks in my eyes, just as tall as he is and not afraid of him at all. I am going to be very well-prepared, and I have a lot of surprises for this kid.”
Dinu last fought in October 2020 with a second-round stoppage of German veteran Frank Bluemle in October 2020. His promoter, Greg Cohen, founder and CEO of Greg Cohen Promotions says his fighter will be a different man when he shows up for battle on June 5.
“Bogdan Dinu has only lost to two of the top contenders in the division in Miller and Kubrat Pulev, and he really should have won the Pulev fight,” said Cohen. “Bogdan is a brilliant, experienced, tough guy with a great amateur pedigree, and I don’t think Daniel Dubois is ready for someone with his world-class skills and experience. Dinu is working every day in camp with Jarrell, pushing him to his limits and taking him to new levels as a fighter. After June 5, Bogdan Dinu will be the interim WBA heavyweight champion in line to face one of the top dogs.”
*The WBA ranks Anthony Joshua as their super champion, Trevor Bryan as their regular champion, Robert Helenius as their gold champion, and Manuel Charr as their champion in recess.