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After Daniel Dubois's victory over Anthony Joshua by knockout in the fifth round, there was a flurry of reactions from boxing fans and notable figures in the sport. The 27-year-old British fighter impressed everyone, showcasing his rising talent, while Joshua’s career now seems to be in question.
One of the first to respond was Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated both Dubois last year and Joshua two years ago in Saudi Arabia. Usyk holds an incredible record of 22 fights with 22 wins. His opinion carries a massive weight, and the experienced boxer shared his thoughts right after the match, offering some critical insights on Joshua’s performance.
The Ukrainian boxer stressed that he wasn’t shocked, believing Dubois was the better fighter and clearly deserved to win this match. He pointed out several flaws in Joshua's style, emphasizing those weaknesses. Usyk had previously analyzed the British fighter and is well aware of his shortcomings.
‘Not shocked because it’s boxing. Daniel Dubois today was better.
Anthony had one problem because this position [leaning back] is dangerous – if you want to step back, do it like this [by moving your feet], not like this [leaning], this is dangerous.’- he said, as quoted by METRO.
Usyk's promoter, Alexander Krassyuk criticized Joshua for his lack of defensive skills in the fight against Dubois. He pointed out that Joshua's footwork and mentality were huge issues, suggesting that almost every aspect of his performance was lacking.
Krassyuk remarked that while Joshua appeared to have the familiar face of a champion, he seemed completely different on the inside. He stressed that Joshua didn’t perform as everyone expected; for instance, his right hand was low on his chest, leaving his chin exposed. Krassyuk described the situation as an easy target for any boxer, not just Dubois, underscoring how vulnerable Joshua looked in the ring.
Lennox Lewis, the boxing legend, also weighed in on the match, believing that Anthony Joshua made a huge mistake that cost him the fight. The experienced boxer recognized that Dubois was a great opponent who had already posed challenges to big names in the sport. Although Joshua appeared confident leading up to the fight, he failed to demonstrate that same assurance in the ring. Lewis felt that the British fighter could and should have performed much better.
‘The problem with that punch right there… he didn’t throw a jab first,’ Lewis said.
‘If he threw a jab first… nobody throws an uppercut against a dangerous fighter like that from a distance. That’s what he did, that’s the mistake he made.’
During the fight, he sees that AJ has his chin raised, which puts him in a vulnerable position. This makes it easier for a right-handed boxer, known for their knockout punches, to land a hit. Lewis thinks that Dubois, watching the fight, sees that exposed chin as a perfect opportunity to strike.
Daniel Dubois is an impressive fighter who knows how to exploit his opponents' weaknesses to achieve victory. The Frenchman has demonstrated this many times throughout his career. This time, it was Joshua who faced the consequences of his mistakes, a fate that many boxers have encountered before him. Dubois has shown that he is a skilled fighter who could achieve great things in future matches. However, this is nothing new, as Daniel has proven his abilities time and again.
Terence Crawford reacts
Terence Crawford, a 36-year-old American boxer, also chose to comment on this fight. Given his extensive experience, he watched the match closely and shared his thoughts on it.
Crawford wasn't surprised by the outcome of the fight. He mentioned that Dubois was the better fighter who capitalized on Joshua's mistakes. He stresses Joshua became too overconfident and forgot basic defensive skills while trying to score a knockout after he shook Dubois. Crawford noted that Dubois came in with a clear intention to win, which was evident in his eyes, while Joshua was determined not to lose.
However, Crawford has doubts about Joshua's ability to bounce back. He pointed out that Joshua has been through many tough fights, and his body has taken a toll. While he thinks Joshua has the potential to make a comeback, he believes it will be very difficult.
It will be interesting to see what is in store for these two boxers in the coming period. It is not known what Dubois' or Joshua's plans are when it comes to continuing his career, but many fear that the experienced Briton will put an end to everything. However, after last night's fight, Anthony pointed out that he has no plans to end his career at all, but that there might be a rematch between these two boxers.
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