When Daniel Dubois stopped British Olympic gold-medallist Anthony Joshua within the fifth spherical of their heavyweight boxing combat on Saturday, the little-known fighter not solely sealed the Worldwide Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title but additionally cemented his place among the many world’s greatest within the division.
Joshua, 34, was the favorite to beat his compatriot and proceed his try and grow to be world champion for a 3rd time, solely to be stopped by the person seven years his junior.
The emphatic nature of Dubois’s win has catapulted him to the highest of the heavyweight division in his nation and despatched reverberations across the boxing world.
Al Jazeera appears at what all of it means for Dubois and the heavyweight division:
Who’s Daniel Dubois?
Dubois was born in Greenwich, London, the place his father started coaching him as a boxer at an early age. A house-schooled little one, Dubois liked boxing and later joined boxing golf equipment in south London.
Also referred to as Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois, the boxer turned professional on the age of 19. The 6ft-4-inch (193cm) has now gained 22 of his 24 skilled bouts.
What did Dubois say after beating Joshua?
In a defiant outburst upon profitable the combat, Dubois reacted to the pro-Joshua crowd by bellowing, “Are you not entertained?”
The gang roared again in response – simply as Dubois had hoped.
“I’m a gladiator,” he continued. “I’m a warrior to the bitter finish. I need to go to the highest degree of this sport and attain my full potential. Behind the scenes, I’ve been working onerous, with all my household and my staff. They’ve all helped me.”
“I’m not going to cease till I attain my full potential.”
Who will Dubois combat subsequent?
Instantly after the combat, the WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker known as out Dubois to problem him for a combat. Parker, who has gained his final 4 fights, urged he face Dubois, with the winner then taking up the victor of Usyk vs Fury for the undisputed title, however there was no affirmation of an settlement.
Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF title, gained by Dubois on Saturday, in June simply 5 weeks after changing into the primary fighter to unify the belts in almost 25 years. Usyk will face Tyson Fury, whom he beat in a cut up determination on Might 18, in a re-match for the WBA, WBO and WBC belts.
It’s unclear if Usyk will face off towards Dubois, whose personal tackle issues is that funds will decide the identification of his subsequent opponent be it the Ukrainian or Joshua.
“I’d love a rematch, however both one actually — whoever pays me probably the most,” Dubois instructed talkSPORT radio in the UK on Tuesday.
Talking about the opportunity of going through Joshua once more, Dubois stated: “If that occurs subsequent then yeah, I need to go for it. I need to do it even higher subsequent time. I do know the place I want to enhance as effectively, in order a champion and as a fighter I simply need to show individuals incorrect each time and that’s what we have now been doing.
“I believe I’d be loads higher than that (final combat). It was a terrific present, a Rocky-type combat, however subsequent time I consider I will probably be extra medical, extra sharp, all the pieces higher.”
When is the Usyk Fury combat?
Fury and Usyk will battle once more on December 21, and far will hinge on the result of that combat.
Dubois’s promoter, Frank Warren, says his fighter “wants to remain busy” suggesting there might be an additional pairing for Dubois earlier than he faces Uysk or Fury.
“We’re going to take a seat down and give it some thought,” Warren added, “We must see what the result is [between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury].”
How can Dubois declare the undisputed heavyweight title?
The clear path could be for Dubois to attend for the result of the Usyk and Fury re-match. That may imply having to attend till the primary half of 2025 for his subsequent bout. That lends to the speculation {that a} bout with Parker could also be advantageous. It could additionally include an enormous threat {that a} shot at unifying the belts could be on the road with Parker eyeing his personal path to a shot at Usyk or Fury.
What occurred the final time Dubois fought Usyk?
The pair fought in Poland in August final yr, Usyk stopped Dubois within the ninth spherical however solely after controversially getting time to recuperate from what was adjudged a low blow by Dubois within the fifth spherical.
It despatched Usyk to the canvas, the place he sat towards the ropes. Replays confirmed the punch hitting round Usyk’s belt and Dubois nonetheless maintains he was robbed.
“I need to get my rematch,” Dubois stated of Usyk, “and put the incorrect proper.”
What subsequent for Anthony Joshua?
The opposite possibility for Dubois is the Joshua re-match for which the latter has the precise to set off.
The bruising defeat for Joshua, who himself has misplaced twice to Usyk, could go away the 34-year-old looking for a better combat to proceed to rebuild his profession. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes his man will search a right away probability of redemption: “I believe that’s a given,” he stated.
Whereas not committing to a right away return to the ring with Dubois, Joshua himself says he’ll combat on, “I rolled the cube at success, however got here up brief. However I’ll preserve rolling the cube.”
A re-match between Joshua and Fury was additionally on the playing cards in Saudi Arabia, however that now seems a good distance down the road – if it’ll ever occur in any respect.
