Daniel Dubois silenced his critics with career-best display in 10-round pounding of Jarrell Miller in Riyadh

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois feels he has shut up his critics after his 10th round stoppage of Jarrell Miller in Riyadh at the weekend.

The Greenwich heavyweight had plenty of pressure on his shoulders heading into the clash with his loudmouth American opponent on a big show in Saudi Arabia that also featured Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

But Dubois, 26, produced the most impressive performance of his career to improve his professional record to 20-2 and make sure he remains in the mix for another shot at a world title.

The punch selection from the South Londoner was on point as he found the previously undefeated Miller (26-1-1) an easy target.

The New Yorker absorbed some big punches but was shipping punishment without reply when referee Michael Alexander stepped in just eight seconds before the final bell.

“It really mattered tonight and I had to dig deep,” said Dubois. “It was a great fight and I showed my heart.

“I’m just glad I came through it.

“I had my dad screaming in my corner and I knew I had to get out there and work.”

Dubois has been accused of quitting in his defeats to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk.

“I had to prove it and show it to myself, really, that I was a real fighter – that I can be a champion,” said Dubois. “I silenced all the doubters tonight. I had to finish strong and I always look for the knockout.

“I want to fight the best. After this fight I will excel. The confidence that might have been missing before, I regained it tonight. I showed that I can take punishment and dish it out.”

Miller had verbally dug out Dubois for lacking heart when the going gets tough in the lead up to their 10-rounder but was more respectful afterwards. He said: “Daniel is no quitter. I’ve been inactive for a while and I took this fight at four weeks’ notice.

“I said I was going to give it all I’ve got but the main thing was to be back in the ring.

“Triple D has got my respect. You came in here and you banged out.”

Frank Warren has promoted Dubois since he made the switch over from the amateurs.

Warren said: “He is back at the big table, so now we will be looking for some big fights for him next year.

“He can have a nice break over Christmas because remember he has gone into back to back training camps for significant fights – the last one was the world title (against Usyk). This one was like redemption.

“Sometimes when he is fighting he looks back for his father’s voice. So I grabbed him and got him up in the corner. I know you were listening to him.

It spurred you on even more because if you ain’t going to do it for your dad then you ain’t going to do it for anyone, are you?”

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