Denly so tonderful
Dubois strikes fear like Tyson
(left) (right)
StarSport’s CHRIS McKENNA talks exclusively with rising star Daniel Dubois IN his prime, Mike Tyson would instil so much fear into his opponents that they would be beaten before stepping into the ring.
Such was his intimidating ferocity that he became heavyweight champion of the world aged just 20.
There was no glitz or glamour. He was known for his no-nonsense ring walks, often bare-chested, wearing no socks, just black trunks and boots and with no music to announce his arrival.
While current heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is a scary prospect to face in the ring, when he walks out there are smiles and fist bumps for fans.
But tonight a man who appears to be cut from the same cloth as Tyson takes on his 14th opponent, looking for a 13th knockout.
Daniel Dubois is 22, 6ft 5in to Tyson’s 5ft 10, but could be the closest thing to Iron Mike the heavyweight scene has ever witnessed.
“I know it can happen that people fear me like they feared Tyson,” says Dubois ahead of tonight’s fight against Japan’s Kyotaro Fujimoto at London’s Copper Box Arena. “If you keep putting the message out with
your style and your puts fear in competitors.
“Tyson was someone who I looked up to. As a young kid I tried to emulate some of the things he did in and out of the ring. I feel that is part of my character and part of my fighting style.”
Dubois is the British and Commonwealth champion and promoter Frank Warren believes he has the future world heavyweight king in his stable.
“When I was a kid I would watch videos of different fighters and then I would go to the gym and try to be Tyson for the day,” says Dubois.
He is approachable and often smiling – but when it comes to fight time he slips into a dark mood.
His trainer Martin Bowers describes him as ‘Terminator’ when he gets to the arena on fight night and Dubois added: “I’m fearless.
“As a fighter I need that, it’s part of my armour, it’s part of my protection.”
The plan for Dubois is to keep busy and improving over the next 12 months so that in around a year when Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are clear of all their mandatories and agreed fights he will be perfectly positioned for a crack at a world title.
“To fight Joshua or Fury at Wembley would be the pinnacle,” he said.
“To win at that level would be amazing.
“I’m never going to give up until I get there.” approach it the other
from RORY DOLLARD in Benoni
JOE DENLY brushed aside a mild case of man flu after hitting his first century as an England player.
But emergency call-ups for Somerset pair Craig Overton and Dom Bess are proof flu-like symptoms have hit the bowling attack hard in South Africa.
Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach have all been too unwell to field in either warm-up match.
Five other players and staff have been hit, including Denly, but none badly enough to join the trio confined to the team hotel.
England have been concerned enough to draft in paceman Overton and off-spinner Bess ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
Denly, 33, said: “It’s not ideal for those guys not to have taken part in these games but hopefully they’ve rested up well. They’re getting better each day.”
Denly was fit enough against South Africa A yesterday to score 103 in England’s 337-5.
He added: “I don’t think I’ve had it quite as bad as some of the boys, just a mild case of man flu I think.”