Is Daniel Dubois the real deal or overhyped?
Following his comprehensive fifth round knockout victory over local rival Nathan Gorman, to claim the British title.
Many are talking about Dubois being the next big thing in heavyweight boxing. Although at just 21 years old, he looks a frightening prospect. Have we been here before and are the public being fooled by another hype train?
There have been comparisons made with Frank Bruno and more recently, Anthony Joshua. Both have become world champions, so I am sure Dubois wont mind emulating them. However, in Frank Bruno’s case, big Frank had been billed as a young superstar, looked the part, but in the end, never really developed into a great fighter, had heart but a questionable chin and failed whenever he came up against real good opposition.
AJ is still writing his story. But again, another who aesthetically looked superb. His Olympic gold medal helped him get a push and to be fair, had done all that’s asked of him.
However, his loss to Ruiz Jr raised huge questions that had been whispered previously, about his size, agility and chin. If he comes back and wins the rematch comprehensively, then it will go down as a blip. However, leading up to that loss. Chinks had been showing.
Daniel Dubois at just 21, undoubtedly looks a promising prospect and maybe I am being harsh to AJ, who was fast tracked into world level boxing. But that is the path set for Dubois, the new British champion. Heavyweight boxing has always had this fixation with the next big thing and Dubois has been touted as that for a number of years now.
Previously, it was about the future, now the future is fast approaching and the fast tracked path is starting to become a reality. With the local derby against Gorman, the publicity that fight generated, the media exposure, the needle, grudge and trash talking, to which Dubois handled all fairly well. It was his first feel of what he has to look forward to in his career.
The Gorman fight was his biggest in all aspects of the sport, in terms of publicity and media. But it will soon pale in comparison to what he is heading for on that fast tracked path.
At only 21, it’s obvious he has a lot to work on. For me, the most glaring thing is he throws punches with his chin up in the air. So far, he’s been able to get away with this.
It maybe is due to him having a great chin, maybe just great movement, or its down to the lack of power of the opposition, or a combination of all three. However, as he moves up in class, his chin will be tested and in heavyweight boxing, you cannot afford for your chin to be tested too often.
So throwing punches with his chin down is a major improvement he will need to work on. Secondly, something I think Frank Bruno and AJ has been criticised about is their size. It’s all good and well having bulging muscles, but if that hinders your speed and agility. Which is something both Bruno and recently AJ seemed to have struggled with, then it will be a major problem as he moves forward. I feel he will have to lose some bulk.
Naturally, being 21 with only 12 pro fights. He still is a novice and has a lot to improve on. But just like AJ, with the fast track path. He’ll have to learn on the job and learn fast. I was impressed with the way he has handled himself in his first real big test. He ran through Gorman with some crunching right hands, demonstrating his power and composure.
However, I am not sure whether he trusts his chin or just didn’t respect Gorman’s power. But I feel in those five rounds he did take some shots and was particularly open to the left hand counter.
This is something other fighters might pay close attention to. I did see some head movement and composure when going in for the kill. But I also saw a willingness to get involved in a firefight and throw recklessly, something that I have seen previously from Dubois. That is playing a dangerous game in heavyweight boxing. He will have to learn that although he has power. As he moves up in class, he cannot just blast his way through opponents and will have to learn to be cute, find angles and pick his punches.
I’m sure some boxers will try to frustrate him and goad him into a firefight, in hope they can either tire him out or pick him off. Dubois, although being quiet publicly, seems to easily get emotionally drawn in to a fight and that is something he will have to learn and improve with experience.
But thus far, knowing he has been the bigger, stronger and better fighter, I think he’s been fairly comfortable getting into a slugfest with the opponents he has faced, so he’s been prepared to take those chances. But as he moves up in levels, against higher calibre of fighters, he will need to reconsider that.
Following his victory, Frank Warren stated Dubois will box again in September. However, no opponent has been named. For me it has to be Joy Joyce next. Dubois and Joyce has been on a collision course for sometime and this fight will decide who is the top heavyweight in Britain that will get the initial push on to world level.
A loss for either will not necessarily be detrimental, but obviously the defeated boxer will have to work their way back, where as, the winner will have an open path onto the world stage. Joyce, who fought as the co main event before Dubois. Plodded his way to a disappointing points win over the smaller Bryant Jennings. Where the American used all his experience to survive the 12 rounds against the bigger but less experienced Joyce.
I wasn’t impressed by Joyce, as his lack of experience and ring knowhow showed. However, a fight against Dubois will be exciting prospect in a mega British showdown to see who will be next in line, following in the footsteps of a few British heavyweights before them, to continue Britains rich tradition with heavyweight title contenders.
I think it’s way too early to say whether Dubois is the real deal or overhyped. I guess only time will tell. There is no doubt he is a huge prospect. However, there have been many huge prospects in the sport of boxing, especially at heavyweight, that have not fulfilled that promise. Dubois could easily fall into either category.
He is although, one of the most promising and exciting prospects that British boxing has ever had. And what he does from here on will determine just how much of a prospect he is. It’s not just the physical aspect that could make him a world beater. But his temperament, ego, emotional stability, willingness to learn, desire and determination. Watch this space.
