Underdog Daniel Dubois looks back in bid to take big step forward
British underdog Daniel Dubois will draw inspiration from Tyson Fury when he faces world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night. Dubois (19-1, 18 knockouts) will walk out at Tarczynski Arena in front of around 43,000 spectators this weekend, with the majority inside the Polish venue supporting Ukrainian hero Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) given many Ukraine natives have resided in Poland since Russia’s invasion of their country last year. While Dubois, 25, can expect a hostile ring walk for his first world title fight, his promoter Frank Warren has been here before. It was Warren and his Queensberry Promotions company that made the match-up between Fury and Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, which ended with the British heavyweight producing an enormous upset in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in remarkable fashion. That was Fury’s maiden world title bout and few gave him a chance, but he pulled off a shock victory on points in Dusseldorf and stablemate Dubois is now dreaming of doing the same in Wroclaw. “All the great fighters had to do it. Before they were champions, people doubted them and had a lot of things to say,” Dubois told the PA news agency. “Boxing is made up of opinions so I never take it to heart or let it break me. I am ready to go. Ready to go out there and prove what I need to do. “Tyson is a good example. Look at what he has done and gone on to achieve now. I just need to get the prayers going and hopefully the big man upstairs hears me.” Saturday’s show is the start of a busy period for Warren and Queensberry Promotions, with a rematch between Joe Joyce and China’s Zhilei Zhang scheduled on 23 September at Wembley Arena. Meanwhile, Fury is due to step in the ring to take on mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a boxing contest on 28 October in Saudi Arabia, but the Briton’s WBC heavyweight title will not be at stake. A successful couple of months for Warren’s fighters could result in an in-house unification bout at the start of 2024. Warren told PA: “Every big heavyweight fight, our fighters are involved in. Regarding Tyson’s future, it all depends on what happens on 26 August, so it is an interesting time for the heavyweight decision. “We’ve seen the odds upset and I just feel it is Daniel’s time. I know he has all the equipment to do it, he can punch from both hands, he has a great jab, good speed and footwork. It will all be about his temperament and I believe his temperament will see him through. “No one gave Tyson a chance and over the years we’ve done a few of those fights, so I hope it is the case again. At the end of the day, Daniel has got a massive opportunity and if it comes out right for him, it would be brilliant.” Plenty has been thrown at Dubois since the fight was confirmed with his age and lack of experience cited as big weaknesses, while the bookmakers have him as a huge outsider. The Londoner has fought 20 times since he turned professional in 2017 but notably took a knee which allowed himself to be counted out in the 10th round of a clash with Joyce three years ago due to a grotesquely swollen left eye. Dubois received a barrage of criticism for ‘quitting’ from current and former boxers. It was later revealed he suffered a broken orbital bone and nerve damage around his eye in addition to retinal bleeding. After rebuilding his career in America, Dubois now enters his first world title fight at the age of 25 but with more heavyweight bouts than Usyk and a secret weapon in new trainer Don Charles, who was in Derek Chisora’s corner when the Briton pushed Usyk all the way at Wembley Arena in 2020. Dubois added: “I have been boxing for most of my life so that [age] argument is out of the window. I have the experience and I need to be a veteran in this fight. “I have to bully him. I have to go in there and be the bully. Be the bully and shake him up. Yeah, Don will be putting in things that I am not even aware of style-wise and coach-wise. He has a lot of passion and that is what you need. “You need the bully-the-bull type mentality to go in there and f*** s*** up, as they say. That is what we need to do.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Democrats accuse tax prep firms of undermining new IRS effort on electronic free file tax returns
Congressional Democrats are accusing big tax preparation firms including Intuit and H&R Block of undermining the federal government’s upcoming electronic free file tax return system
1970-01-01 08:00
Elle Fanning makes Alexander McQueen campaign debut to promote Joan of Arc-inspired range
In a new range inspired by France’s patron saint, Elle Fanning has made her debut fronting an Alexander McQueen collection, alongside Naomi Campbell, Liu Wen and Eva Green.
1970-01-01 08:00
Dutch Supreme Court confirms immunity of former Israeli officers over a deadly 2014 Gaza airstrike
The Dutch Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that a Palestinian man cannot sue Israel’s former defense minister and another former senior military officer over their roles in a deadly Gaza 2014 airstrike
1970-01-01 08:00
Carlo Ancelotti reveals Real Madrid's transfer plans for end of window
Carlo Ancelotti does not expect Real Madrid to make any further transfers before the window closes.
1970-01-01 08:00
Payday creator admits third game is very similar to 'the original concept'
Ulf Andersson admits there is not much difference between the first two games and the upcoming third instalment.
1970-01-01 08:00
Olivia Rodrigo received a letter of advice from Jack White the first time they met
Olivia Rodrigo has been mentored by former White Stripes star Jack White.
1970-01-01 08:00
A mariner accused of raping college student loses ability to work at sea, but escapes criminal charges
In a high-profile case that rocked the commercial shipping industry, a sailor accused of raping a student from the US Merchant Marine Academy has agreed to surrender his credential to work on ships, but he will not be criminally prosecuted.
1970-01-01 08:00
Factbox-Companies sell their businesses in Russia
Some Western companies have agreed to sell their Russian assets or hand them over to local managers as
1970-01-01 08:00
What was Meghan Markle's first acting role? Duchess of Sussex's first gig from 30 years ago comes to light
Meghan Markle played a student alongside Christina Applegate and David Faustino in the sitcom
1970-01-01 08:00
Virgin Galactic: Student Ana Mayers on going to space with her mum
Two weeks after she was in space with her mum, Ana Mayers is going back to university in Scotland.
1970-01-01 08:00
Where was Donald Trump held? Former president weighs in on 'terrible experience' of being arrested and having mugshot taken
Donald Trump was arrested for his alleged involvement in trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia
1970-01-01 08:00
