Ringside trance: A Casual Fan's Tale of Joshua vs. Dubois
Gather around, boxing folks, as I weave you a tale of grit, glory, and gut-wrenching drama, witnessed through the screen, under the warm glow of morning east coast sun light.
The TBV podcast title Preview and predictions of Anthony Joshua versus Daniel Dubois and it stirred the boxing community like a hornet’s nest. My initial reaction/prediction? Simple – AJ would win spectacularly. Joshua has the creds; he could box, he has faced adversity, and honed his skills against formidable fighters. One cant ignore his heavyweight KO power, vividly displayed when he stopped Francis Ngannou, the behemoth weighing in at 272 pounds. Before that, AJ had broken Otto Wallin’s spirit so decisively that his corner waved it off, and let’s not forget the fierce KO of Robert Helenius. AJ’s streak of stoppages was reminiscent of a traffic cop enforcing rules – there was no denial that the man is a force to be reckoned with.
And then, there is Daniel Dubois. A sturdy opponent whose fighting style posed a legitimate threat. Nestor Gibbs from The Boxing Voice podcast echoed into the ears of thousands, reminding us of Dubois' alarming mental edge. Gibbs had me recalling AJ’s occasional mental lapses. Dubois, fresh off a TKO victory over Filip Hrgovic – the division’s boogeyman – had taunted and toppled Big Baby Jarred Miller. Dubois’ confidence soared, believing he was robbed against Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated both AJ and the Gypsy King Tyson Fury.
Digging through these insights, shared by the knowledgeable Gibbs, my mind still predicting Joshua win. But as the fight unfolded, reality took a bitter turn. Joshua, taking a first-round punch to the head, seemed dazed and off-beat like a tipsy British gent at a pub, downing his sixth pint of extra stout Guinness attempting to dance better than an Aussie olympic break dancer. Over the next five rounds, AJ fumbled and struggled as Dubois dominated, shattering my wish upon the almighty boxing star.
In those moments, my heart breaking into pieces. I became a fan of Dubois, now better known as "Triple D" (pause) Daniel Dynamite Dubois.
Even so, Joshua earned my respect, deserving a rematch. I’d eagerly watch this saga unfold again, and if ever there’s a biopic about Anthony "AJ" Joshua, my only plea is – no Michael B. Jordan, please!
As the screen dimmed and reality settled, one truth emerged – boxing's storytelling magic lies in its unpredictability, where heroes are made, unmade, and remade in the blink of an eye. Congratulations to Daniel Dynamite Dubois aka DDD on a victorious night over Anthony Joshua.