Ahead of Daniel Dubois’ undisputed heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, July 19, at Wembley Stadium, Sporting News have listed five top facts about the British boxer.
The 27-year-old IBF champion could make British boxing history if he beats the favourite in the first-ever undisputed heavyweight match to take place on UK soil.
Despite all the headlines, fame and media coverage, here are five facts about Daniel Dubois that you probably didn’t already know:
1. Born in Greenwich, London on September 6, 1997, Daniel is extremely close with his family, which includes his boxing trainer father, Dave; his world champion sister, Caroline; and younger brothers, Prince and Solomon, who are also boxers currently honing their crafts in the amateurs. It was his father, Dave (also known as Stan) that first took him to the Peacock Gym in Canning Town, London, when Daniel was just nine-years-old. He went on to box for Repton and won half-a-dozen national titles as well as two international gold medals. He made it onto the Team GB squad but decided to turn pro after only seven senior bouts. His amateur record was 69-6.
2. Young Daniel first rose to fame before he had even laced up his professional gloves, after he knocked down an unbeaten world champion during a sparring session. News spread like wildfire of an unknown 18-year-old in the Team GB squad who had floored Anthony Joshua during a sparring session in Sheffield.
3. When he turned pro, he invented the moniker, “Every belt”, declaring his intention to win all the silverware available. He has certainly made true on his promise, so far collecting 13 titles: WBC Youth; Southern Area; English; WBO European; WBO Global; British; Commonwealth; WBO International; WBC Silver; WBA Interim; WBA Regular; IBF Interim; IBF World.
4. Dubois has only ever fought opponents with winning records. Their combined records add up to an impressive 420-47-4. “DDD” has ruined the unbeaten records of eight of his opponents.
5. Nicknamed “Dynamite” for the explosive power in his fists, he has knocked out 95% of his victims. He has scored five KOs in the first round; seven in the second round; seven in rounds 3-5; and just two of his knockouts have come past the midway mark in rounds 8 and 10.
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