Meet the teenage heavyweight who floored Anthony Joshua
Teenage heavyweight who felled world champion in sparring is bound for the top, says Gareth A Davies
It is with great coyness that teenage heavyweight Daniel Dubois admits that he dropped Anthony Joshua to the canvas during a series of sparring sessions 18 months ago, before the latter’s rise to becoming a world champion. Gym talk can be cheap, but the 19-year-old from Fulham has arrived in professional heavyweight boxing at the right time, at the right place, and indeed, in the right country, and, after three professional fights, has many boxing insiders intrigued.
Heavyweight boxing in Britain is the envy of the world. Joshua holds two belts; Tyson Fury plans to come back; and his cousin, Hughie Fury, is poised to challenge for a world crown against New Zealander Joseph Parker.
But the rise of Dubois remains an extraordinary tale, too, with two younger siblings following in his wake. Caroline, his 16-year-old sister, is the European junior lightweight champion, and brother, Prince, 12, already 9st 11lb, a convert to the ring.
“He’s one of the most talented heavyweights I’ve ever seen at this age, but it’s the way he puts it together already which is so impressive,” says promoter Frank Warren. He is excited by the prospect of Dubois climbing the heavyweight ladder after the young fighter performed so well on the undercard in three outings since he joined the professional ranks in April. He boxes again at the Copper Box on July 8. “It is extraordinary,” Dubois said. “This has been planned since I was five and it really has gone to plan.”
The plan was hatched by his father, Dave Dubois, a market stall trader who has ferried his three children to boxing gyms all over London. Daniel found his home at the Peacock Gym, Canning Town, under the experienced eyes of Tony and Martin Bowers.
Dubois turned professional after just a handful of senior amateur bouts. Dubois, his father, and his handlers felt the Olympics was not for him.
“Not a lot of guys wanted to get in the ring with me. Being on the GB squad, they wanted to take their time with me. But my dad and I sat down and decided I was ready to make this new step in my career and to go for it,” he said. Dubois has beaten his first three foes in a matter of minutes, but it is his shot selection and power that are impressive. A heavyweight with dynamite in his hands is always a prospect, and Dubois – 6ft 5in, 16st 7lb and still growing – has power to die for. “I’ve worked very hard on my physical strength. I just want to be a prizefighter. I wasn’t always this muscular. It’s only recently I put on this muscle. But I always had inbuilt strength. I used to do push-ups for three hours.”
Several other sports could have come his way. “I did javelin, swimming, long-distance running. But the reason I did these other sports was because of boxing, but I didn’t want to get sidetracked.”
Dubois has studied his heroes: Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno. “They were all great guys in their own right. They were individuals. They went for it. I respect that. I want to build myself up to the point where I’m challenging the current guys. When my team think I’m ready, I’ll go for it.
“Sparring with Joshua was helpful in letting me know what I need to do as a man, and a fighter, and the lessons I need in boxing.” Putting Joshua down, he admits “let me know that I have power in both my hands, but other than that I take it for what it is – I learnt from the experience. There is still a long way to go, but I believe I will be No1 in the world some day soon.”
Remember the name. Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois.