Has Daniel Dubois Finally Come of Age?

In the world of heavyweight boxing, few stories are as compelling as that of Daniel Dubois. Once heralded as the future of the division, Dynamite faced a critical juncture in his career following a humbling defeat to fellow Brit Joe Joyce back in November 2020. Before that thumping loss, he had been positioned as the next big thing, only to be stopped by a veteran 'Juggernaut', and many thought that would be the end of the road.

However, since then, Dubois has reeled off six knockout victories against just one defeat, and that was against the incomparable Oleksandr Usyk, on enemy territory no less. Now, he has the opportunity of a lifetime as he goes head-to-head with the face of British boxing, Anthony Joshua, for the IBF heavyweight championship of the world. So, has Dynamite finally come of age?

The AJ Challenge

As Daniel Dubois prepares to face Anthony Joshua, the stakes have never been higher. AJ is a two-time world champion amid a comeback of his own. He has reeled off three straight stoppage victories and as such, the latest Joshua vs Dubois odds make the former a huge 1/5 favourite to secure the IBF world title.

Dubois' strengths lie in his ability to deliver powerful punches with both hands and an increasing ability to adapt his strategy mid-fight. The bookies don't fancy his chances, with the latest boxing betting odds making him a 7/2 outsider. However, if he can land his brutal power shots on the notoriously chinny AJ, then he may well spring the upset and ascend the throne to claim a share of the heavyweight title. Then, a clash against the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury II is surely next on the hit list.

Heartbreaking Usyk Loss

In the wake of that devastating defeat to Joyce, Dubois picked up four straight knockout victories against lowly opponents. However, with Usyk unable to come to terms with an undisputed clash against Fury last year, Dynamite was suddenly thrust into the limelight. He found himself with a chance to become the unified heavyweight champion on enemy territory in Poland last August, and if it wasn't for a contentious refereeing decision, he may well have walked out victorious.

After holding his own in the opening rounds, Dubois dropped the Ukrainian champion in the fifth round with a brutal body shot. Despite Usyk staying down for far longer than ten seconds, referee Luis Pabon declared the shot a low blow. Usyk then took his time to recuperate, recovering to ultimately overwhelm his British opponent and win via a ninth-round stoppage.

Usually, such a defeat would be a crushing blow, but for Dubois, it revitalised his career. It proved to many that he may well be a world-level fighter, and he ultimately faced stiffer competition in the aftermath. But that step-up was a test that Dubois was ultimately ready for.

The Resurgence

Following the Usyk fight, he returned to the ring with renewed vigour and determination, and his knockout victory over Jarrell Miller was a statement of intent. The brash American was once scheduled to face off with Anthony Joshua himself but had to drop out, ultimately changing the course of the heavyweight division in the process. But he was no match for Dubois in Saudi Arabia last December, and Dynamite dominated en route to a tenth and final-round knockout victory.

That win put him in position for a shot at the IBF world title. Unfortunately for him, newly minted undisputed champion Usyk opted to vacate the title and wait for a rematch with Fury. Instead, Dubois would fight for the interim title against Filip Hrgovic, one of the best heavyweights on Eddie Hearn's stacked Matchroom roster. The Croatian had become known for his durability and heavy hands, and was expected to push Dubois to his limits.

Instead, the Brit dismantled him with a combination of speed, precision, and strategic aggression. He secured a dominant eighth-round knockout victory, and now he has the opportunity to secure his legacy once and for all as he battles AJ at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.