BRITISH heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois has tipped Americaโs WBC titlist Deontay Wilder to defeat unified WBA, IBF and WBOย bossย Anthony Joshua. โIโd favour Wilder. Itโs equally risky for both of them but I favour Wilder,โ Dubois said, surprisingly, of Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder.
But he doesnโt expect the fight to materialise, even though negotiations are currently progressing. โPersonally I donโt blame him for going for an easy option. Take on someone else, someone thatโs less of a threat. Wilder is a very dangerous fighter,โ reflected Dubois, who, when he was a GB boxer got some sparring rounds in with Joshua. โHe [Wilder] is a big, serious threat for AJ losing the titles. Thatโs money. Money gone. Money he could earn otherwise, fighting different opposition.โ
Now just seven fights into his professional career, on Saturday (June 23) Dubois will fight Tom Little for the English heavyweight title. โItโs a fight, itโs on, it gets lively, it is what it is,โ Dubois said. โItโs a fight, itโs on, Iโm ready.
โI want to do the job real quick, but Iโm ready for 10, 15 rounds of boxing. Iโm 100% ready.โ
โItโs very important,โ he said of the belt he stands to gain. โIโve got the Southern Area, Iโve got the WBC Youth title and I just want to keep going up the ranks, keep adding titles, keep picking up belts.โ
Nathan Gorman is a potential domestic rival, though that fight is more likely for next year. โIโd take that fight next, if my manager and promoter think thatโs right. He dealt with what was in front of him, Sean [Turner], and he did well and got the win,โ Dubois said.
He knows the Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Joyce well. But thought little of the collapse of Joyceโs most recent opponent, Ivica Bacurin in the first round. โItโs laughable. The guy probably wasnโt getting paid enough,โ Dubois shrugged.
But he added, โJoeโs been doing well. Heโs a bulldozer, heโs strong, heโs tough. Thatโs his way of doing things. Itโs not pleasing to the eye to watch sometimes but itโs very effective. Heโs done well so far.โ
โIf we do meet down the line, Iโd more than welcome that challenge,โ Dubois continued. โIโve sparred all of them, Frazer [Clarke], Joe, Joshua. Joe gave me good sparring. Heโs a tough solid guy.
โWe adjusted to each otherโs style of boxing and it was good. It was good fun to learn and get experience sparring these guys.โ
Heโd like the new British heavyweight champion Hughie Fury to take on rising challengers, but fears Fury will vacate. โIโd take that challenge on any time,โ Dubois said. โ[Heโs] quite slick, good movement, a slick sort of boxer. Both Tyson and Hughie have got the same sort of style. Boxing and being awkward in the ring.โ
On Saturday Dubois continues his education in the ring.