Heavyweight Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) has revealed that he feels like he is starting his professional career all over again as he closes in on his date with Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) with the WBA interim title at stake on June 5.
Dubois, of course, suffered the unfamiliar sensation of defeat at the back end of November when he entered into a heavy duty domestic duel with Joe Joyce with multiple titles on the line, including the British and European.
The 23-year-old, who had previously picked up nine championship belts in 15 fights, was considered by many to be the irresistible force of the heavyweight division, with the 2016 Olympic silver medallist believed to be a notable obstacle along his reign of terror that saw 14 of his opponents vanquished via stoppage.
The 35-year-old Joyce, a far more seasoned campaigner in the sport, had other ideas and brought his know-how to the fore in repelling the Dubois onslaughts while picking him off with speedy and telling jabs to the eye of his younger opposition.
It was those measured and powerful prods from the left hand of Joyce that caused a grisly injury to Dubois’ left eye that ultimately resulted in him taking himself out of the line of fire in the 10th round of a close contest in which he was actually up on the cards.
So, instead of sitting back admiring his lofty ranking with the WBO and jostling for a seat at the top table, Dubois was left to lick his wounds and await medical reports over the severity of his injury. He was also left to ponder what went wrong and reconcile himself to the fact he would be embarking on a rebuild.
Dubois admits reconciliation was not instant.
“You know it took a few weeks actually, I must be honest,” he conceded. “Just to reflect, look back and slow everything down again, to pick up the pieces and start putting them back into place. I made decisions about the team, how we are going to move forward and what the next step is.”
A step the bright young heavy insists did not include sulking, even though the taste of defeat was far from familiar.
“I was doing a lot of things, picking up different sports like playing tennis and we’ve got a pool table at home, so I was doing a bit of that.
“I needed to shake the feeling off that a loss brings. It is a down feeling and I needed to overcome it to come forward and see the light.
“The last time I lost was an amateur, it was a good few years ago, when I was 16, probably. When you are a pro and the whole world is getting to see your vulnerabilities, it is interesting, you know. It is a proper sport this boxing.
“You have to ride with it and now I am back again and ready to come back stronger. I’ve looked at it, examined it, now I am ready to push on again, iron out my mistakes and put it right.”
During his period of contemplation Dubois reveals he harbored no doubts over his future participation in the sport, pointing out that his taking a knee maintained his own grip on his future plans rather than relying on medical opinion to continue.
“No, I was honestly too busy feeling bad to think about that. Once I collected myself and pulled myself together, not once did I have doubts over whether I would be coming back.
“Maybe it turned out right that I made the decision I did.
“There was a break from everything, but I am used to being in the gym. Usually after fights it is ‘who is next?’ but that slowed down a bit and now is the time to start again in life. I feel like I am starting my pro career again, as if I am an amateur just turning professional.
“That for me is great – a fresh start. There is no better feeling than the beginning.”
Good luck young man. 1 set back won’t define your career. B-Hop lost his very 1st fight and went on to become a Hall of Famer.
You are correct, MrCEO. As a matter of fact, one of the greatest fighters EVER was KO’d in his very first Professional fight & after his first 4 bouts his record was 1-3…he was not KO’d again, though, with the exception of Fritzie Zivic who KO’d this exceptional fighter in the 12th round of their Welterweight Title fight. He was born Henry Jackson. Fought in the amateurs as Melody Jackson and had an unremarkable & brief amateur career. Ended his Pro Career 145-20–9 w/98 KO’s and was only stopped TWICE in 174 bouts. He is more commonly
known as Henry Armstrong. In life, and ESPECIALLY in Boxing, it isn’t how you start but how you finish that matters.
Interesting that DuBois has returned before Joyce.
Exactly. What about Joe Joyce?? He is not so young to waste time. Why not is fighting already with a top contender like Whyte, Povetkin or others?? Maybe he has not the right promotor
JJ has been the victim of the Fury shenanigans re the AJ fight.
He was due to fight Usyk for the interim WBO title but that had been put on hold because of the AJ/Fury negotiations and now is likely to not be fighting Usyk.
I feel for JJ as he has been waiting on an interim/maybe full WBO title opportunity and is now going to have to make other plans.
I’ve said the same on other threads. JJ has been screwed by the AJ/Fury fight not happening.
Not taking away anything against Daniel Dubois, but is it official now that when someone loses, they get rewarded with an interim title shot in his next fight?
You can never have enough sanctioning fees as long as you can get someone to pay them.
So it would seem.
He’s potentially looking at two losses in a row.
Total respect for him now. Man is handling himself with class
“The 23-year-old, who had previously picked up nine championship belts in 15 fights…”
– Some one please explain this sentence to me…and speak slowly so that I can understand.
He’s fond of paying sanctioning organizations 3% of his purses, so he can collect belts that someday will collect dust on his mantel.
Re Joe Joyce – would a fight with Dillian Whyte be worthwhile?
It would give Joyce a top 5 name on his record and Whyte a chance to get up those WBO rankings so he is not just relying on the unreliable WBC as an avenue for a WT shot?
I’m not sure who Joyce is promoted by (maybe Warren) but I believe Hearn has a good relationship with JJs manager Sam Jones
john gardner: Would be interesting seeing Joyce vs Whyte, or Ruiz, or any top name. The problem is JJ can’t wait because of his age, and when any HW gets to the top, they all seem to stall fighting each other.
Re DD , I always thought people were very harsh on him. I’d also say that the only people who can say they would have fought on are those who HAVE fought on with such an injury. Conor Benn said he’d like to think he’d fight through anything but until you are in that situation you can’t say.
Also I believe DD was ahead on the scorecards.
I remember Vitali quit vs Byrd with a shoulder injury and there were those who questioned his steel. He then went on to win a WT and fight LL where he was stopped with a bad looking eye injury which he protested should not have been stopped.
Sometimes common sense needs to come first
WBA handing out belts as per usual.
I thought Daniel Dubois was the “next” and one loss certainly doesn’t mean it’s over, but I think he needs to go further back to the drawing board than Dinu. There is plenty of time for him, so I’d try to get into the bum of the month club for a year or two. Focus on the jab, defense and general comfort in the ring. Don’t even throw your bombs until the 3rd round. Joe Joyce showed the experience gap imo and despite the scorecards was clearly comfortable and in control. Basically, he was beating Dubois up with only his jab. Daniel needs work, not a interim or any other paper title.
Wow great opportunity for him first fight back. A title and the right opponent. Good management
I was a big fan of Daniel Dubois, But when he lost to Joyce, I became a bigger fan of Joe Joyce himself. I’m still a fan of Daniel, but he got defeated by a man that day. I hope Dubois Can you come back ocean and challenge for a heavyweight title in the future, but right now Joyce should be given that chance first. But I must say, any upcoming heavy weight better not take their chances with Michael Polite Coffie. Michael is on a mission and he is serious about it!
Dubois is TooSoft.- DuSoft
Expect the underdog to take him out in 4.