Daniel Dubois: Fight record, career, boxing legacy
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Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) has been written off more times than Rocky Balboa, but on May 9, he breathed new life into his career, stopping Fabio Wardley in round eleven of a brutal, bloody war in Manchester, helping him climb up many heavyweight rankings. His career has had plenty of peaks and troughs. Here we take a look at Dynamite’s fight record, career and boxing legacy.
Daniel Dubois: Pre and post Joe Joyce
Dubois got to 15-0 in a relatively straightforward fashion, with only Kevin Johnson lasting the distance. He then faced Joe Joyce in 2020 under heavy COVID-19 restrictions. Dynamite was stopped via a strong left jab, resulting in Dubois taking a knee due to a fractured left eye socket.
Despite the seriousness of the injury, Dubois was widely criticised, but won his next four fights, including against Kevin Lerena, where he was floored three times in the first round before stopping the South African in the third round.
Post Oleksandr Usyk 1
In 2023, Dubois took a massive step up in class to face Oleksandr Usyk. Despite some controversy in the fifth round, which was correctly ruled a low blow, Usyk dominated the Brit and stopped him in the ninth round, leading to more criticism about his heart.
After this loss, many wondered where Dynamite would go next, and he won three consecutive fights, including a brutal KO win against Anthony Joshua.
Dubois was dominated and stopped in the rematch against Usyk, losing his IBF heavyweight title.
Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley
Dubois briefly left Don Charles after the rematch defeat to Usyk and joined Tony Sims, only to return to Charles a short time after. There first fight back together saw Daniel Dubois challenge Fabio Wardley for Wardley’s WBO heavyweight title.
It was a brutal clash, which saw Dubois knocked down in the first and third rounds. His corner got him to refocus, and he bossed the bout from that point onwards, working off his ramrod jab and finding a regular home for his right hand. How Wardley stayed on his feet was a miracle because the punches from Dubois carried plenty of power. The referee saw enough and waved the fight off in the eleventh, crowning Dubois the new WBO heavyweight champion.
Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) has confirmed that he will activate the rematch clause for facing Dubois. It remains to be seen if the rematch happens, but the intent appears to be there from Wardley. Daniel Dubois is in a great position now, and unification fights and big bouts beckon for the Brit.