Frank Warren: Youth is coming through – my charge Daniel Dubois will defeat Anthony Joshua

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Daniel Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren reckons that the youth and momentum of his fighter will prevail when he defends his IBF world heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua on September 21.

The 26-year-old from Greenwich won the interim belt in June as he halted previously unbeaten Croatian Filip Hrgovic in eight rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

And Dubois was upgraded to that governing body’s full champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title.

Ukrainian Usyk has a contractual agreement to rematch Tyson Fury, who he defeated earlier this year to become undisputed in the weight class, meaning he was unable to defend his IBF strap against the South Londoner.

Now comes a Wembley date for Dubois (21-2) against Olympic gold medallist Joshua (28-3).

Warren, who has promoted Dubois for the entirety of his professional career, told DAZN Boxing’s Face Off programme: “All the stars are aligning for this to be a great fight – I think youth is coming through.

“This is a battle of the hearts and the minds. When they are throwing those jabs someone is going to start dominating – it’s who has got the mental versatility to find their plan B, because that is going to be needed.

“There are eight years difference in their ages. He is a young man compared to AJ. He is hungry and he can fight – I’ve never had any doubt in his ability.

“He can jab, he can punch, he has got good movement and he’s fast. The only thing about it is in his head. His last two fights he’s had to dig deep and has pulled it out of the bag in big style. He did that against world-class fighters. He has all the tools to win that fight.

“He has fought in big stadiums and on big shows. There aren’t 100,000 people in that ring – there are two of them and a referee, that’s it.”

Dubois’ last victory over Hrgovic was a slugfest which saw huge shots traded. Hrgovic was cut over both eyes and that eventually forced the stoppage by a ring doctor.

But Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has warned that Dubois will be in big trouble if he gives his boxer the same openings.

“If you take one of those right hands then there is a real problem – and he took 30 of them,” said Hearn.

“He (Joshua) can win it anyway he wants. He can outbox him, outpunch him and he can outsmart him.”

Dubois does have losses where his desire seemed to be sapped away – against Joe Joyce and Usyk.

“I was in a dark place and going through some stuff,” he said.

“I feel I’ve been resurrected now. I’m in the light again and ready to fight.

“He has been the king for a long time but I’m a kingslayer and I’ve got to do that again.”

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