By: Sean Crose
The reply to the query: “Can Daniel Dubois defeat Anthony Joshua?” is fairly easy – sure, he most actually can. Within the sport of boxing, anybody can beat anybody on a given night time. But a extra slim query: “What are Dubois’ probabilities of really defeating Joshua?” is much extra fascinating. When Dubois and Joshua sq. off Saturday night time in London, the world will see a battle between a present heavyweight titlist and a two time former heavyweight titlist. And whereas it’s true a future battle for the illusive undisputed heavyweight championship of the world may be at stake, there’s much more on the road for these two males – for the loser can be far much less related leaving the ring on Saturday than he was upon getting into it.
Joshua will most definitely slip between the ropes at Wembley Stadium the favourite this weekend. Once more, although, how massive an opportunity in there that Joshua’s fellow Brit Dubois can pull off the upset? Truthfully? A fairly good one. Dubois might not be as common or embellished as Joshua, however the man is an excellent fighter. That bout he had some time again with Oleksandr Usyk? The referee may need price Dubois the combat after ruling {that a} knockdown got here from a low blow. Watch the clip on YouTube as many occasions as you need – there’s arguably clear proof that Dubois knocked Usyk down with a physique shot moderately than with a submarine punch.
Regardless of that the good Usyk went on to win the combat – he’s Oleksandr Usyk, in any case – the reality stays Dubois put the defending champion on the mat, and should nicely have stored him there for the ten depend (Usyk was clearly harm) had the referee dominated in another way. When one considers the truth that Usyk has defeated Joshua twice himself, one has to provide Dubois a stable likelihood of pulling off the upset this weekend. Dubois possesses velocity, accuracy, and a large amount of energy, a lot energy that solely one of many males he’s defeated have gone the gap with him.
Let’s not overlook Joshua, nevertheless, a person who remains to be having maybe one of the vital stellar careers in boxing. He’s received heavyweight belts, then misplaced them, then received them again, solely to lose them once more…solely to vary trainers and emerge like a pugilistic phoenix a while later, ferocious and rejuvenated. Dubois could certainly greatest Joshua Saturday in London, but it surely actually received’t be simple for him.