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“I’ve been in the ring with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois – I know who wins”

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Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois are fighting for the IBF heavyweight title this weekend and one man who has fought both has predicted the outcome. Dorian Darch was the more experienced challenger when he faced AJ at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff a decade ago.

With nine fights and a respectable 7-2 record under his belt, Darch was a formidable opponent. Joshua, on the other hand, had only turned pro a year earlier but had quickly made a name for himself in the heavyweight division with three TKO victories over Emanuele Leo, Paul Butlin and Hrvoje Kisicek.

Joshua dominated the first round, landing a solid right hook on Darch as the bell rang. Despite being heavily battered with his back pressed against the ropes, the Welshman managed to survive into the second round by the bell.

Smelling the victory, AJ didn’t need long to finish Darch in the second round, landing a tough right, then a couple of powerful left hooks before referee Terry O’Connor called an end to the match, reports MirrorMeanwhile, three years later, Dubois met Darch in the ring in December 2017 at London’s Copper Box Arena.

Darch, despite having more experience on paper, found himself in a similar situation when he faced Dubois in the ring. With a 5-0 record at the time, Dubois managed to stagger Darch with a powerful right punch just 30 seconds into the first round.

Despite Darch’s good work in the clinch, Dubois was able to drop him moments later with another solid cross. Just ten seconds into the second round, Darch was hit with another tough right hook that sent him flying towards the canvas, but managed to continue the fight after the referee counted. Dubois landed a right hook-left hook combination that dropped Darch again shortly after the fight resumed. Despite this, the fighter counted and continued the fight.

However, Dubois ended the fight seconds later, knocking down Darch with another right hook, prompting the referee to call off the fight. Dubois is scheduled to face Joshua for the IBF heavyweight title on Saturday night. Having fought both men, Darch has given his opinion on who he thinks will come out on top.

In a candid interview, the 40-year-old shared: “In my opinion, Dubois is just not as large or punches as tough as Joshua, but he was a better technical boxer. Standing next to Anthony Joshua, he’s huge, but Dubois is not that much bigger than me. Dubois punched tough, don’t get me wrong, but he didn’t have the concussive power in my opinion.

“AJ is more of a one-shotter, he’s got the power of featherlight; Dubois knocked me down three times, I had a cauliflower ass by the end, but none of the punches would have kept me on the ground.” He continued: “Dubois has made a lot of progress since [Joe] Joyce fought, his character was built much better, I still don’t think this power can be developed, but he was teenage when I fought him, so you never know, maybe he became more powerful.

“But when I fought both of them, AJ hit a lot harder.” While praising Dubois’ technical improvements, Darch nonetheless predicts a knockout victory for AJ at Wembley. He continued: “Dubois, even though he’s gotten a lot better since the loss to Joyce, has just been caught too many times in the [Filip] Hrgovic, you can’t get caught like that against AJ, it’ll be just terrible.

“So, in my opinion, the AJ knockout, I don’t think it’s going to be on points. I think it’s got to be an early or mid-range knockout for Joshua, I think. Because I don’t know if you watched Dubois’ last fight with Hrgovic… honestly, he took the punches, but you can’t take them against AJ. He took about seven to eight rights, and you just can’t physically take them from AJ.”

Joshua has won nearly every title in the sport, including the WBC, Continental, British, IBF, IBO and WBA heavyweight titles at various points throughout his illustrious career. With an impressive record of 28-3, he now sets his sights on current IBF titleholder Dubois, who boasts an impressive record of 21-2.

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury Gets His Wish As Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois Fight Predictions Are Exact

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Tyson Fury was sitting ringside at Wembley Stadium as Daniel Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight – and got the result he wanted.

Dubois (22-2) entered the fight as the champion but was still considered an underdog, knocking down Joshua (28-4) four times in the first four rounds before ending the fight less than a minute into the fifth.

Fury I felt the fight would end in a knockout, and he got his wish when he saw the result as a fan at ringside. Before the fight he said, “I think it’s a tough fight for both guys, they’re going to be hitting each other and it could go either way.

Although Fury was unsure who would win the fight, he predicted excitement: “It’s not a foregone conclusion[of who will win; they’re both heavy punchers and could knock each other out][ktowygra;obajsąmocnymipięściarzamiimoglibysięnawzajemznokautować[ofwhowillwin;they’rebothheavypunchersandcouldknockeachotherout

“I can’t wait for the fight. The real winners are the ones who come and watch people beat each other up.

“I’m going as a fan and I don’t have any percentages for either one; whoever wins, wins. I’m sure it’ll be an thrilling fight as long as it lasts, if there’s not a knockout either way I’ll be disappointed.”

“Opportunity can come to Daniel, you don’t know what role the crowd can play in the fight, but in my experience in a boxing fight you’re there and it’s a fight, and it’s like Donkey Kong.”

Fury is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk on December 21, 2024 in a rematch of their May fight. Usyk handed Fury his first defeat as a professional boxer, becoming the sport’s first undisputed champion since 1999.

If Usyk were to win, Dubois could challenge him to a fight in 2025 to settle the undisputed heavyweight title once and for all. However, the Ukrainian defeated Dubois last year, albeit after controversy after Dubois’ body blow that floored Usyk was ruled a low blow.

“I’m fighting for all the glory, for me I’m a hunter and I have to hunt,” Dubois said after defeating Joshua. “It’s been a journey and I’m grateful to be in this position. I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior until the bitter end. I want to reach the pinnacle of this sport and reach my full potential.”

When asked who he would like to fight next, Dubois replied: “All the best, maybe Usyk, that’s a huge chance for me to redeem myself, but anyone can do it.”

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn confident about Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois rematch

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Joshua, although he needs time to recover, seems ready to return to the ring against Dubois, as Hearn explained: “But he’ll need rest, and it’s a perilous fight. This guy [Dubois] is gaining confidence, but believes that he can hurt Dubois.

“He’ll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight, it was a great performance from Daniel.”

Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has his eye on a fight with Oleksandr Usyk after the Tyson Fury rematch. Warren said, recognizing the threat Usyk poses: “Oleksandr Usyk is considered the best heavyweight in the world right now and he gave him his toughest fight at the time, there’s no doubt about that.”

Warren added with hope for future fights: “He hurt himself [during their first fight in 2023]I would like to see him fight him now – but of course he has to fight Tyson [Fury] first and I think Tyson will take his skin.

“Everybody here saw the champion perform tonight. Two great fighters in the ring and the champion perform. And I think he did everything that was asked of him.”

“He showed his courage, he showed his skills, his resilience. AJ caught him with a shot there and I was worried about that. But he caught him with a counter and that’s what happened. What a great, great fight by both guys.”

And who does Dubois like? “Maybe Usyk, gigantic chance for my redemption. Anyone… anyone can do it,” he declared, “I just went on a rollercoaster ride. This is my time, this is my redemption story and I won’t stop until I reach my full potential.”

Reflecting on the fourth defeat of his professional career, Joshua was asked what went wrong. “The opponent,” admitted the two-time former world champion, “credit to him and his team, we took a chance and it didn’t work out.”

“But I want to say to everyone at Wembley, I appreciate you coming out tonight. You know I’m f**ked up, you know I’m ready to go in the ring, but I’m going to stay composed, I’m going to be very professional and I’m going to show respect to my opponent.”

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UK Boxing

Boxer in Joshua vs Dubois fight appears to retire immediately after loss

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Josh Warrington signalled his retirement after leaving his gloves in the middle of the ring following a convincing defeat to IBF super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace at Wembley Stadium. Warrington, 33, a former two-time featherweight world champion, went the distance but was beaten by his Belfast rival 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 in the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois fight.

It was Warrington’s third defeat in a row and the fourth of his professional boxing career. He had been beaten in his previous two fights by Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez before meeting Cacace in north London.

Warrington won British, Commonwealth and European featherweight titles in 2013 and 2014 to begin his climb to the top of the division. He then won his first world title in 2018 by defeating Lee Selby.

He successfully defended his world title three times before losing to Mauricio Lara in 2021. That defeat came just a stone’s throw from Wembley Stadium at Wembley Arena. He faced Lara in a rematch six months later, with the fight stopped on the orders of the ringside doctor after the champion received a trophy in his left eye.

He regained the IBF title the following year by defeating Kiko Martinez, but his reign was short-lived as he was defeated by Lopez, a Brit from his hometown of Leeds. Lopez overcame a nasty cut over his left eye to see two judges score it in his favour.

Warrington has already set his sights on what life will be like after retirement. He’s moving into the promotional business. “Well, a boxing career doesn’t last forever when it comes to being a fighter,” Warrington told talkSPORT in the summer.

“I dread the day I retire, but I have to start planning for when it will happen. I feel like I’ve seen enough contracts, been to enough promotion and management meetings.

“I would like to pass on this knowledge to the next generation and my manager Steve Wood gives me a great opportunity to be involved in the company.

“I grabbed that opportunity with both hands and now I’m having fun with it. Steve’s a great manager and a great promoter. He took me from compact venues to arena shows. With my youth, I can assist with that.”

Fans paid tribute to Warrington on social media. “A sensational career, so many underdogs but he has shined in every challenge,” said one. Another added: “Amazing career, one he should be proud of – I used to think he was only European at best and he has proven me wrong.”

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