Daniel Dubois is ready to exert punishment on Trevor Bryan for keeping him waiting for his world title shot. Dubois goes in with the American champion on June 11 with the WBA world heavyweight championship at stake, fighting for the ultimate right to take on the super champion, which is currently Oleksandr Usyk.
The 24-year-old Dubois has been out of action since August of last year when he fought Joe Cusumano in Cleveland that resulted in a first round stoppage. A vaccination issue prevented him returning to the States to fight again in December and, since this time, taking another fight would have jeopardized his mandatory rights with the WBA.
Bryan was also granted a voluntary defense of his title against Jonathan Guidry in January, which delayed the ambitions of the 17-1 Londoner and left him hard at work in the gym.
“It is about time and I have been waiting patiently for a while,” the former WBA interim champion Dubois said on the Unibet Lowdown. “It has been frustrating so I am glad to get it on, finally.
“I will definitely take it out on him with controlled aggression, that’s what works. I want to go in there to put on a boxing display and make a statement. I have been training pretty much non-stop, I have been in the gym and the other guys have been having fights and I have just been working away, but now it is on and I can’t wait to go out there and show what I am about.”
Dubois insists he carries a much wiser head on his shoulders these days and is an improved version of himself since his only setback against home rival Joe Joyce in 2020. His sparring partner for that fight, unbeaten American heavy Jeremiah Milton, is back in London again and has detected a difference during their sessions of friendly fire.
“Of course, I am getting older and age brings maturity and experience,” reasoned Dubois, who turned professional at the age of 19. “I’ve just got to learn from my mistakes. I’ve got all the experience needed to succeed now and it is up to me to apply it, be myself and go out there and just devastate him.
“We’ve been working on a few key things we’re going to use in the fight and it is all a work in progress. We’ve got a gameplan in mind but it is just about feeling it, really feeling it and I’m gonna get in there and make sure I’m on it this time.”
Working away from home, Dubois adds, is something that excites him, as does fighting on a show promoted by the 90-year-old Don King. Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson are numbered amongst the heavyweight kings promoted by King.
“No pressure, it is in Miami and that is the place to be. I can’t wait to get out there and put on a show. I am not at all fazed by being the away or home fighter, I am just going to take this opportunity with both hands.
“Those names get you buzzing, you hear them and think ‘this guy is ancient and a legend of the game’. Now we are doing business with him, it’s amazing. It is the way this world works.”
DON KING is not going to put this fight on! I bet you anything he claims Bryant is hurt! He won a purse bid for 3 mm and is selling tickets for $100 a pop No network, maybe a small PPV fee. No one will buy it…. ALL a game w DON!!! WBA needs to strip Bryan after DON pulls Bryan out…. All eyes are watching
I’m with you. I’m going to believe that this fight is occurring only when the bell rings for the first round. And even if that does happen, I’m not ruling out a Curtis Harper moment.
I don’t know-pretty prestigious fighting for the ultimate right to fight the super champion.
That’s what everyone said about Bryan’s last two fights and those shows happened.
Exactly. Do these people not understand that in this case there’s a casino operator fronting the money? And that in general King always finds outside backing *before* putting bouts together?
Miami Jai-Alai is hardly a casino. They are not fronting the 3 mm. No chance,,, maybe $25-50k, and I dount that.
That’s true, but both times he ended up fighting someone besides the originally scheduled opponent.
The Don has Manual Charr and Fred Oquendo on standby.
after the next delay or cancelation, will he threaten to make him pay double? lol
I personally think Dubois will beat Bryan on points with no problem by simply sticking and moving. Bryan delayed this fight because he’s not ready at all and knows Dubois is bringing it to the table to win. Dubois is hungry and knows he’s ready for a comeback. Don King is like Oscar to some extent… Alot of experience and they know the insides of the game to skid around legal entities to delay fights for monetary or fighter reasons.
Scooby if Bryan comes in the same shape he has for his last two fights, I don’t think he goes the distance against DD. He won’t be able to move and Dubois hits too hard not to catch him with something huge for 12 rounds. I think Bryan can make a good fight out of this one if he gets in shape, I don’t think he will though.
Put the winner in immediately with the winner of Usyk v. Joshua II to continue the WBA Campionship Reduction Plan.
I don’t think Dubois has a chance in this fight. In fact, nobody but the top 3 should be favored against Bryan after his significant over jonathan guidry.
‘Ok Mr. King, I read your note, so can I go now?
Well, hope this Dubois, Bryan fight does happen, will be interesting
Im still not sold on Dubois. I think at most, a watered down version of Frank Bruno.