By: Sean Crose

No one thought IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois was a second-rate opponent for Anthony Joshua. They simply didn’t think the man would literally beat up the popular former champion. Yet that’s exactly what Dubois did from the first round on Saturday night in London. Joshua, one of the most popular fighters in the sport – if not the most popular – never showed up for a fight after his fellow Englishman tagged him early in the first round. In four rounds and a few seconds, Dubois went from being a respected fighter to one of the most highly regarded heavyweights in the world.

Now that the 27-year-old is a star in the sport, he has a number of lucrative and prestigious opportunities ahead of him. First, there’s a potential rematch with Joshua. Of course, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has stated that there’s a rematch clause between the two fighters. If so, Dubois would likely enter the ring as the clear favorite. It may sound like it’s been said before, but Dubois-Joshua 2 would be a stern fight regardless. Plus, Joshua still has significant knockout power, meaning anything is possible.

Then, of course, there’s the highly anticipated rematch between WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC world champion Tyson Fury, which is set to take place in Saudi Arabia in December. Holding the IBF title means the winner will have to beat Dubois if they want to become undisputed champion. And Dubois has already proven he’s no basic opponent. You could say he floored Usyk when they first met a while back, although it was controversially ruled a knockdown. Usyk won that fight, but it wasn’t an basic night for the undefeated Ukrainian.

As for Fury, the fighter known as “The Gypsy King” would have a huge height advantage over Dubois – but then again, so did Joshua. If Dubois could get Fury with his jab, he could finish the punches that broke Joshua last weekend. But that sort of thing is easier said than done. That said, few things are basic in the sport of boxing. On top of that, Dubois exudes confidence, which he has every right to at this point in his career. The question is, how far will that take him? Combined with the skill set the man has shown recently, it will be intriguing to find out.

Q: Where does your boxing story begin?

DeLuca: It started when I was a kid. I started boxing in a program in downtown Boston. It was more like Dorchester self-defense. It was a miniature neighborhood group that you went to every Saturday, sparring or hitting the bag. But it didn’t last long; I was 10 when they shut it down. Then I moved on.

Q: What initially got you into boxing? It’s always compelling to hear how people got into boxing, considering how hazardous it can be.

DeLuca: My dad boxed on the same show when he was adolescent. He won the Golden Gloves and had a few pro fights. So I guess it was a case of “monkey see, monkey do.” I just followed in his footsteps.

Q: When did you start taking boxing seriously?

DeLuca: When I joined a modern gym, I started competing in Junior Olympics and local tournaments like Silver Gloves. When I was 12, I took it seriously and stayed competitive until I joined the Marines. From age 12 to 19, I was in the amateur circuit.

Q: What made you join the Marines with such a passion for boxing? Was there a turning point?

DeLuca: I think I was at a crossroads. My dad was into boxing, but he wasn’t really interested. I didn’t know if boxing was a real career for me, and I needed to make money. I was always interested in the military, but I also wanted to keep boxing, so I joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After boot camp, I came back and resumed my boxing career.

Q: How demanding is the physical aspect of being a Marine? Does that have anything to do with boxing?

DeLuca: Absolutely. There’s a fitness standard, and there’s a weight standard. In the Marines, you can’t be out of shape, so boxing and military life were pretty similar for me, both mentally and physically.

Q: Are you still committed to your professional career?

DeLuca: No, I retired last year. Now I just train guys.

Q: What are some memorable moments from your career? Any shows that stand out?

DeLuca: Yeah, I remember fighting a guy named Anthony Osbourne from Jamaica. His record was 7-28-1, but just before our fight, he went 10 rounds and beat an older, but still tough, former contender from Jamaica. I hit Osbourne challenging in the first round, but he was a tough, crafty veteran who never let me finish him. That fight really stands out.

Q: Who is the best fighter you have ever fought in the ring, both in sparring and in professional fighting?

DeLuca: Erislandy Lara, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Carlos Gongora. The level of relaxation they have in the ring is impressive. It’s like they’re walking in the park, even if you land a good punch. They don’t get nervous. They’re just so mellow and relaxed.

Q: How do you translate your experiences as a player into your role as a coach?

DeLuca: I always had a knack for training, even as a adolescent fighter. The first pro I trained was a friend of mine when I was 16. He was getting back into shape and I helped him win before he retired. That’s when I realized I had a passion for it. After I retired, I started training guys full time and it was a natural progression for me.

Q: What sets you apart as a coach?

DeLuca: I have always been comfortable leading and motivating guys. Even when I was younger, I would lend a hand others in the gym. Now I employ that experience to motivate my fighters. I believe in keeping them motivated through a combination of mental and physical toughness. Being a coach has made the transition from fighting much smoother for me.

Edgar Berlanga believes Terence Crawford can’t be counted out in a 168-pound fight with Canelo Alvarez. Even though Crawford is older and would have to give up weight to middleweight champion Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs), the recently defeated Berlanga believes he would have a chance.

Crawford turns 37 this Saturday, September 28, and has to start thinking about retirement if a fight with Canelo doesn’t fall into his lap.

It would be great to see Crawford get back on his feet and fight for the title against Canelo, while competing against four talented killers: David Benavidez, Osley Iglesias, David Morrell and Christian Mbilli.

Sorry Berlanga. At 168 you are not in my book one of Crawford’s top four fighters to fight Canelo. Jeweled, counterfeit fighters with tender resumes don’t count.

If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh offers Canelo $150 million to make the fight happen, Crawford will move up two weight classes from 154 to challenge him for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles.

Turki recently joined Crawford in challenging Canelo on September 14 following his one-sided 12-round unanimous decision win over the hopelessly outmatched Berlanga. However, when asked about the bout at the post-fight press conference, Canelo seemed uninterested, saying, “No comment.”

The way Canelo delivered that remark was clear: “Stop bothering me.” Crawford needs to take the hint and move on, because Canelo won’t assist him in his quest to get generational money for his golden parachute retirement fund. David Benavidez has already offered Crawford a fight, and other top fighters like Jaron “Boots” Ennis are also interested in fighting him.

“I really believe that anything can happen in boxing, and Terence Crawford is a legend. He’s a great fighter. The only thing I see that speaks in Canelo’s favor is his weight, and he’s a lot bigger. That’s the only thing,” Edgar Berlanga told Rocks the universe on his thoughts on a potential Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 pounds.

“As far as skill and IQ, Crawford can match anyone and probably be better. Crawford is a legend, man. You can’t count him out,” Berlanga said.

Is this the biography of a legend?

– Errol Spence: *After a car accident
-Shawn Porter:
-Kell Brook:
-Amir Khan
– Wiktor Postol
-Ricky Burns
-Yurikis Gamboa
–Israil Madrimov
-Felix Diaz
-Jeff Horn
-Julius Indongo