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‘Fighting Words’ – Dubois vs. Joshua: Two Men, Five Losses, One Great Fight

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There is no doubt that the best heavyweight fighter in the world is Oleksandr Usyk.

There is no doubt that the most significant fight in the heavyweight division will be the rematch between Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21. A fight for three world titles, the title of lineal champion and recognition as the king of huge men.

This is the fight that matters most. That doesn’t mean other fights or fighters pale in comparison.

The Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua fight in London on Saturday is a huge event.

It is an significant fight, even though Dubois’ IBF title is secondary, rejected by Usyk because his contract required him to rematch Fury first.

It’s a huge fight, even though Dubois lost to Usyk and has two losses. It’s a huge fight, even though his opponents have five losses combined. Joshua has the other three of those blemishes – two of them at the hands of Usyk.

And yet it is a huge fight, not only because more than 90,000 spectators are expected at Wembley Stadium, but also because the match remains significant.

Their fight will establish the winner as the third best heavyweight in the world and set them up for a fight with at least one of the other two. And a huge part of what makes this so significant is those losses.

When people ask me why I prefer to write about boxing rather than baseball, my first love, I talk about how significant each fight is, how a boxing match is a chapter in history, not just a miniature piece of a puzzle spread out over the course of a season—a puzzle with a huge picture that hasn’t necessarily begun to take shape.

Like any other fight, Dubois-Joshua will tell the stories of two men entering the fight. It will tell the stories between the opening bell and the final bell, a mix of action and drama, twists and turns. And it will lead to recent chapters for the winner and the loser.

Both Dubois and Joshua were forced to rebuild – not once, but twice each.

First came Joshua’s initial rebuild. His jaw and defense were in question after his June 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz, when Joshua shockingly lost his three world titles on two major miscues. First, Joshua thought he was hurting Ruiz more than he actually was by knocking Ruiz down in the third round of their fight. Then, when Joshua came in for what he hoped would be the final blow, he did it from too close range and left himself too vulnerable to Ruiz’s counters. Ruiz went down once in the third round. Then Joshua went down twice.

Joshua had been hurt and knocked down two years earlier in his 2017 fight with Wladimir Klitschko, but Klitschko allowed Joshua to recover and come back for the win. There was no chance of that this time. Joshua was disoriented, the damage was ongoing, and it helped Ruiz finish him in the seventh round.

The fact that Joshua won the rematch six months later, regaining his titles in the process, was largely due to Ruiz coming into the fight significantly overweight, which made it easier for the wobbly Joshua to box cautiously from a distance, reminiscent of what Klitschko did when his jaw was shattered so long ago.

Klitschko eventually learned to emphasize his strengths and protect his weaknesses, which led to a long reign at the top of the heavyweight division. Joshua tried to rebuild and was able to score a knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev. But then came his defense against Usyk in September 2021.

The smaller Usyk was the better boxer, using feints and footwork – tricks and tactics Joshua hadn’t seen enough of and didn’t know how to deal with. By the end, Usyk had Joshua reeling in the final round.

That fight ended in a unanimous decision for Usyk. Their rematch in August 2022 ended in Usyk defending his titles by majority decision again. Joshua took the microphone and delivered a monologue that left viewers wondering if the former two-time heavyweight titleholder had not only lost, but had lost it – unable to cope with the reality of what had happened in that fight and what it meant for his future.

But over the past two years, Joshua has regained his confidence, admittedly against lower-level opponents – with a points win over Jermaine Franklin and knockouts over Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and moonlighting mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou.

Is his confidence a facade? Is this renewed Anthony Joshua a mirage? His first really solid test will tell.

That test was Dubois. It was Joshua’s beard and defense that were questioned before, and rightly so. And it was Dubois’ heart that was criticized before. That criticism was highly unfair.

Dubois took a knee and counted to 10 in the 10th round of his November 2020 fight with Joe Joyce. He was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards. But he suffered a stern injury — a broken eye socket — and made a hard but strategic decision to protect his health and future.

The hearts of many fighters have been criticized over the years. And the best answer remains the example of beloved fighter Israel Vazquez, who ended his first war with Rafael Marquez with a broken nose, knowing that trying to beat his opponent was demanding enough when he was robust, but downright hazardous when he was broken.

Regardless of the reason for the loss, Dubois still had that mark on his record. So he worked through his mistakes in the gym, then tested himself against smaller opponents, picking up quick wins over Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano and Trevor Bryan.

Then in December 2022 came the fight with Kevin Lerena, a smaller man who came up from the cruiserweight division and who perhaps gave Dubois more trouble than expected — but exactly what was needed.

Lerena had three knockdowns in the first round. In reality, Dubois had a leg injury and was having trouble literally dealing with Lerena’s powerful punches. But this time, Dubois felt it was an injury he could try to work through, especially considering what a second knockout loss would mean. Dubois won by technical knockout in the third round.

Now it’s time to fight for the title.

Dubois challenged Usyk in August 2023, losing by knockout in the ninth round but, in the eyes of some, winning a moral victory. That was because of what happened in the fifth round. Dubois threw a punch that, depending on your perspective, either went in the belt or came in low. The referee ruled it a low blow. Usyk went down on the mat. Some have incorrectly argued that Dubois was denied the knockout based on the time Usyk spent on his feet. But had the referee ruled it a legal punch, it’s entirely possible that Usyk would have gotten back up much quicker instead of spending some of his allotted time recovering.

Even with a moral victory, Dubois couldn’t afford to lose again in either of his next matches. While Dubois and Joshua’s most recent losses came to Usyk — who has proven to be one of the two best heavyweights in the world and is now the clear best — losses to other, lower-ranked opponents would potentially cost them a shot at making it out of the ring.

So it was a huge deal when Dubois defeated Jarrell Miller, stopping him in the final seconds of their December 2023 fight. And it was a huge deal when Dubois scored another technical knockout when Filip Hrgovic’s cut was ruled unfit to continue in the eighth round of their fight this past June.

Both Miller and Hrgovic were previously unbeaten. Losing to other contenders would have pushed Dubois to the sidelines, in danger of being relegated to the catchy-name measure. Instead, a win over Hrgovic established Dubois as a major contender and earned him the interim IBF title, reinforced by Usyk taking on Fury again.

Joshua, meanwhile, is proof that the sport can sometimes be what we as boxing fans want it to be – where fighters take on hazardous fights even if it means they might lose, and defeated fighters never give up hope.

We’ve seen too many boxers – or at least their managers and promoters – protect their records with a zero for fear that a loss would effectively end their ability to earn money. But the fact is Joshua remained a superstar in the UK.

Even the brightest stars eventually fade. Joshua wants to keep shining for as long as possible. He’ll have to outshine Dubois on Saturday. In the meantime, Dubois wants that torch to be passed. He’ll have to snuff out Joshua’s flame to make that happen.

Usyk-Fury is still the brightest star on the horizon. But Dubois-Joshua is going to featherlight up the night.

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Boxing

George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Boxing

Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

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Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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