Boxing
Power, poise and precision: where Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois can be won or lost
THE ELEMENT of surprise has faded somewhat with the announcement that Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
In a way, Wednesday’s press conference merely confirmed what everyone already suspected – that the pair would headline the season’s event in Riyad, in which Dubois will fight for the IBF world heavyweight title (which was quickly upgraded from interim to full-time just in time).
However, apart from the initial trifle, this is a chance for Joshua to take revenge on his domestic rival, who claims that he forced the 34-year-old to sparring.
The rumor spread like wildfire in 2017 when Frank Warren signed Dubois, who was only 18 at the time.
It’s clear that a lot has changed since then, with both Brits showing clear signs of improvement in recent performances.
What’s more, the stakes are extremely high for their summer sizzler, as the winner will be next in line for an uncontested showdown.
Until the IBF reorganization, all four belts were held by Oleksandr Usyk after his sensational victory over Tyson Fury last month.
However, with a rematch scheduled for later this year, there could be a British heavyweight title fight that we can’t wait to see.
But first, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at the keys to victory for Joshua and Dubois, who are both trying to dispel any doubt that they are the rightful challenger to Usyk’s crown.
Anthony Joshua’s keys to victory
Control your range with your jab
Since teaming up with trainer Ben Davison, Joshua has developed a more authoritative jab, which he uses to elevate his booming right hand. Against Dubois, he will no doubt look to employ this weapon from the first round, avoiding mid- and short-range exchanges – that is, until he finds his rhythm on the outside.
By throwing straight punches, Joshua has greater control over the distance from which he attacks. Changing the range when it suits him will make Dubois wonder if he’s out of range, giving Joshua plenty of opportunities to get inside where he can land hooks and hooks.
Anthony Joshua talks to his head coach Ben Davison during media training ahead of his match against Otto Wallin on December 23 in Riyad (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Take advantage of his footwork
Another aspect of Joshua’s game that has made him a more complete fighter is his footwork. His extraordinary mobility could be seen in the fight against Otto Wallin last December, when, before winning by knockout in the fifth round, the two-time world heavyweight champion created opportunities not only to land punches, but also to get out of the pocket.
With Dubois sometimes showing less motivation to move his feet out of reach – a weakness that Usyk exposed in the ninth round of competition last year – Joshua will likely be given plenty of opportunities to pivot around a more inert opponent, moving from left to right while launching painful counterattacks.
Take the center of the ring
Spatial awareness should always be a key part of any player’s game plan, but for Joshua it is absolutely crucial to his style. Knowing that he can take a few steps back without being pinned against the ropes will ultimately instill confidence in his tactics.
For his jab and footwork to be effective, Joshua needs time, but more importantly, space to set traps for his opponent. Otherwise, if he is forced to move onto his back foot – with significantly confined movement in the ring – then any physical advantage over Dubois could very well be just a statistic on paper.
Keys to victory by Daniel Dubois
Disrupt Joshua’s rhythm
Meeting a more experienced operator who has added some recent strings to his bow is never an straightforward task. For Dubois to gain a foothold in this fight, he must unleash his explosive waves during periods of perceived inactivity, preventing Joshua from establishing flow.
There are often telltale signs that a fighter is about to fire; they will reveal some kind of specific behavior – for example, blowing their nose or tapping their shorts – before engaging in an exchange. If he can identify Joshua’s characteristics, Dubois will be able to exploit them by timing his attacks accordingly.
Be the first to attack
By being the first to strike, Dubois will avoid falling victim to Joshua’s traps. The former “regular” WBA champion was aware of this in his last fight against Filip Hrgovic, whom he managed to land cleanly while leading with various shots.
However, against Joshua, someone with a higher boxing IQ, Dubois will have to be more moderate in his approach. When implementing his tactics, it is critical that he makes plenty of feints so that once he has taken the lead from Joshua, he can then respond with more effective counters.
Maintain his mental determination
After being considered a quitter in 2020 following a tenth-round loss to Joe Joyce, Dubois has proven that he can indeed dig deep in a fight. In his last two appearances – against Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic – he showed an unwavering winning mentality, surviving several tough moments before finishing emphatically on both occasions.
It was here that Don Charles and Kieran Farrell – his newly formed training team – made the most noticeable difference. Providing clear instructions and, if necessary, a polite kick in the backside, Dubois’ corner will play a key role in the clash with Joshua, who, judging by his recent performances, may be looking to finish the fight the distance.
Daniel Dubois breaks the will of Jarrell Miller during their heavyweight fight at the Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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