DANIEL DUBOIS’ former trainer Shane McGuigan questioned the advice given to Anthony Joshua before his downfall at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
Having been dropped three times Joshua sat down at the end of round four needing a miracle to beat the IBF heavyweight champion. Joshua’s corner led by Ben Davison then advised him to “[Get] in behind that double jab, bring it up, roll the dice.”
McGuigan, who trained Dubois to four wins after the loss to Joe Joyce but was subsequently replaced by Don Charles, formed part of the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team at Wembley for the all-British heavyweight showdown.
The 36-year-old trainer to Daniel’s younger sister Caroline, the current WBC Interim lightweight belt holder, described the instructions given by Davison’s team as “dangerous” before giving his thoughts on what exactly Joshua should do to stay in the fight.
“I think that’s dangerous advice there to be honest,” McGuigan said.
“Getting him to bring it up off the double jab, Daniel throws that right hand straight off that double jab and by bringing it up he means an uppercut. He is going to walk himself straight onto his short right hand. If you ask me I’d just say keep your hands up tight. Get through these next two rounds and then use your athleticism late down the stretch.”
In round five Joshua went for broke and connected with a couple of big right hands but Dubois stood firm and just as McGuigan predicted Joshua then walked himself onto a short right hand and got knocked out.
The defeat was Joshua’s fourth – his third in three years – and came after a four-fight winning run which included the spectacular knockout of MMA star Francis Ngannou in March. Joshua’s loss to Dubois, however, has many questioning whether or not the former unified champion should hang up his gloves.
