Boxing
Joshua won’t have full faith he can beat Dubois in the rematch
Published
4 months agoon
Commentator Steve Bunce believes Anthony Joshua will not have as much confidence in his ability to beat Daniel Dubois in a rematch as he did after his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.
(Source: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Joshua (28-4, 23 KOs) is now five years older at 34, while Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) is significantly younger at 27. He is a much stronger boxer than Andy Ruiz and is not going to party and easily make 280+ pounds.
It is unknown whether Joshua will decide to fight Dubois again because it is risky and he can make more money by fighting Tyson Fury. If his promoter, Eddie Hearn, comes up with a good excuse to tell the public why AJ will not fight Dubois again, they will believe him.
Joshua and Hearn thought it was a lot easier to trigger the rematch clause and fight Ruiz Jr. again because he had put on weight. He was never a gigantic talent. He was just a fringe prospect that Joshua used as a replacement opponent when Jarrell Miller tested positive for drugs in 2019.
“He’s a little older and probably wondering how much longer he has left. He was so convinced after [Andy] “I believed Ruiz would win the rematch,” Steve Bunce said iFL TV on whether Anthony Joshua will want a rematch with Daniel Dubois, as he did after losing to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.
If Joshua is worried about how fans will perceive him by avoiding the rematch, he will overcome his fear and fight Dubois again. But Hearn or someone on his team could talk him out of fighting Dubois.
“I’m not sure he would have the same confidence. He had complete faith that if he got Ruiz again, he would beat him. It was complete faith. He’s not stupid. I don’t think he had complete faith that he would beat Dubois in a rematch. He can say it, but he feels it,” Bunce said.
Joshua won’t have the confidence to beat Dubois like he did Ruiz, but that’s obvious. In the Ruiz fight, Joshua wasn’t getting beat up in the first round and was fighting well until he was knocked down in the third round on June 1, 2019.
“He should have been stopped a few rounds earlier. He seemed to be thinking too much,” Diallian Whyte told iFL TV about Joshua thinking too much and not letting go of his hands. “Sometimes AJ can be too much of a thinker. AJ was thinking instead of waving his hands. Dubois was waving his hands. Dubois was intelligent. Credit to him, his dad and Don Charles.
AJ’s trainer, Ben Davison, didn’t want to pull him out of the Dubois fight and risk angering him. We’ve seen Joshua change trainers a few times, and it would have been too risky for Ben to pull him out of the Dubois fight in the second or third round to save him.
For coaches who are confident they won’t be fired for pulling their fighters when they’re losing, this won’t be a problem; given how often Joshua has changed coaches, Ben would have put himself at risk of being fired had he given up in the first two or three rounds last Saturday.
“Joshua has made a lot of money and done great things. He can come back and still fight good fights. He has made a lot of money and got a lot of fame. Maybe the spark is not there,” Whyte said.
Dubois hurt Joshua not because of the wealth AJ has acquired in recent years. Joshua was hurt because he couldn’t handle Dubois’ power or any fighter who punched demanding. Joshua’s chin has been vulnerable since his 2017 fight with Wladimir Klitschko, and he’s been stunned many times since then.
Fighters who hurt Joshua:
-Daniel Dubois
– Carlos the Greedy
-Alexander Povetkin
–Andy Ruiz Jr.
– Oleksandr Usyk
– Kubrat Pulev
– Wladimir Klitschko
-Dillian Whyte
“It’s not an simple fight for Tyson Fury,” Whyte said, reacting to reports that Fury wants to beat Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 and then beat Dubois to become undisputed champion. “Fury has to be careful because Dubois has the power of Ngannou. Dubois can box a lot better than Ngannou. So he has to be careful.
“Fury can tie Dubois up to stop him from fighting because Dubois let AJ tie him up so easily. It was crazy,” Whyte said.
Dubois would still be a problem for Fury, as he can’t stay up and lean into the win like he did against Deontay Wilder. Fury’s chin isn’t as good as it once was, and Dubois will land harder punches than those that hurt him against Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois’ body shots will cause Fury problems as he tends to lean into the ropes to avoid headshots, and his body is always exposed when he does this.
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Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
4 days agoon
January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
Boxing
A report about Deontay Wilder retiring at the age of 39 has been confirmed as false
Published
1 week agoon
January 2, 2025Deontay Wilder has not retired from boxing at the age of 39, and the former WBC heavyweight champion has not issued any official statement.
World Boxing News can confirm that reports circulating on social media are false and originated from a imitation account on Up-to-date Year’s Day. As of January 2, 2025, WBN has had no word from Wilder that he plans to hang up his gloves.
As usual, WBN also asked Shelly Finkel for comment. However, Finkel has repeatedly said in the past that Wilder is not retiring. This case seems to be no different.
The last time Wilder spoke publicly was while promoting a mental health app, the Brown Bomber was unveiling plans to return to the sport.
He said: “The push-up protocol has been disabled. Strengthen your body and train your mind; no paid subscription required! It’s not about money. It’s about a mission to strengthen mindsets and improve mental health for all.
To everyone: operate your services and achieve greatness.
“There will be people who tell you, ‘No, you can’t.’ [No] People trying to stop you or putting up stop signs. [No] People who want to bring you down and keep you down. But you can’t give up.
“No matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s a resilient mind, a confident mind, a powerful mind that gets back up and keeps moving forward to achieve your greatness.
“Apply your service. Achieve your greatness,” he added.
Deontay Wilder could announce his retirement tomorrow if he changed his mind, but at the time of the report, there was no truth to it.
When Zhilei Zhang knocked him out on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, the formidable top-flight contender needed time to assess his situation. WBN understands that Wilder has received offers, including contact from Francis Ngannou, regarding a possible boxing match with the MMA star.
The Wilder vs. Ngannou fight only makes sense for an American his age. Many voluntary positions [of which Wilder is WBC number 13] are occupied by threatening opponents who would start each clash as favorites.
Meanwhile, the Ngannou fight is winnable with less risk and more rewards, meaning Wilder can still earn a significant payday before hanging up his gloves for good.
Boxing
Paddy Donovan is looking forward to his clash with Lewis Crocker on March 1
Published
1 week agoon
December 30, 2024Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KO), the current World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight continental champion, had to withdraw from his scheduled December “stay busy” fight due to a minor injury but now is preparing to fight his biggest rival in what may be the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.
The All-Ireland fight between Donovan, who fights in Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KO) of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is scheduled for March 1. “Point of Pride” will headline the Matchroom Boxing card, which will be broadcast live on DAZN from the SES Arena as part of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. Just two fights away, Donovan could win a world title if he defeats Crocker as the IBF mandatory challenger.
“There is something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I will be next,” Donovan declared. “I think turning pro at 19 and now 25 has required a lot of life changes since I turned pro. What matters most is what I learned in the gym, because it was the ups and downs in life – being a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me improve. I improved as a person, which helped me become a better fighter.”
A true fighter from the past, Donovan is currently rated by three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA No. 5, IBF No. 6 and World Boxing Council No. 14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years senior.
“I’m in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head coach/co-manager) and (Up-to-date York lawyer) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I’m where I need to be. To be ranked so high on three major sanctioning bodies is great. I know I won’t stop until I become world champion.
“I’m always at the gym thinking about the next challenge. I say it’s time. I love what I do. I am very grateful to God for being in this situation. I believe in God’s plan for me to become world champion.”
“It’s definitely going to be an explosive fight,” commented Up-to-date York attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, resilient Irishmen who have a lot to prove to the world. We were worried about the injury, but we are sure it will not be a problem during the March 1 battle. Paddy is locked down and training difficult under the watchful eye of coach Andy Lee.
Donovan has dedicated several of his recent fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity, which provides mental health services across Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, at 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, as well as support for those grieving as a result of suicide.
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