Round-by-Round: Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois | PPV - 21 September 2024

[SeanBrennan]

All depends on Usyk-Fury II now. It'll set up Joshua-Fury perfectly if Usyk wins more comprehensively.

I think it's blatantly clear now (as hindsight always does clarify things) just how overhyped the two former Kings and ATGs actually were.

Fury embarrassed by Wallin, Ngannou, and to some extent Wilder given how terrible Wilder proved to be.
AJ being destroyed by Ruiz and now Dubois.

There is no point in Fury and AJ fighting each other now that both have had their level exposed; I doubt very much Turki would want to pay what both AJ and Fury would still demand anyways.

I know what you mean, i think people especially more casual fans would watch it. I'd definitely watch it however pointless it is

[BigDoofus]

So did AJ I think. The statue like persona coming to the ring and ring announcements showed that he was cold expecting he only had to land.

It seemed a premeditated plan to go with his gangster image. What an idiot.

Don’t know what the gangster image has to do with any premeditated plan. Just an observation seeing a rigid Joshua looking cold against a relaxed loose Dubois warm and ready to do what was needed to win.

Why do you think that such an experienced boxer chose to stand staring at his opponent rather than loosening up/staying warm?

[BigDoofus]

Oh god we have a braindead groomed moron as IBF champion.

We should create a Crayola belt. At least we don't have to worry about CTE as he has no brain.

What a turd.

If only Joshua had won he could have updated us on the war in Ukraine.

[SeanBrennan]

Oh god we have a braindead groomed moron as IBF champion.

We should create a Crayola belt. At least we don't have to worry about CTE as he has no brain.

What a turd.

If only Joshua had won he could have updated us on the war in Ukraine.

Hopefully he will still update us

[Twinkle Toes]

Whatever Fury does in December, the fight with Joshua is very much diluted and it should have been made years ago.

Yes it's still a massive box office fight but the shine is well and truly dulled.

I don't think the fight will happen now. AJ won't be fighting Fury next outing, that's would be ludicrous and any boxing fan would know it would be a cash out job and nothing more.

AJ cannot take a punch to anywhere on his head and Tyson Fury would certainly hit him. Joshua has plumitted as quick as Mike Tyson did and has no resistance anymore.

If he executes the rematch DD will do a number again but in quicker fashion, possibly 2 rounds. AJ would go into a rematch shitting his pants and how could he beat DD? AJ is no dancer and has limited mobility. DD would walk right through him.

It's really hard to see where they can take AJ now? Who could he realistically beat on a ppv show?

Personally, the only fight is with Fury but again that's just a rob the fans fight for a final hurray and a hard knock out. Fury would smash him in similar fashion to DD.

Yep, Joshua's team are in a bit of a predicament now. I wouldnt be surprised to see them sit out now and wait for Fury. They can't afford another loss and with how shite Joshua was who would bet against it now.

Hopefully Turki says fk you lot and refuses them both the payday.

[mickey1975]

All depends on Usyk-Fury II now. It'll set up Joshua-Fury perfectly if Usyk wins more comprehensively.

I think it's blatantly clear now (as hindsight always does clarify things) just how overhyped the two former Kings and ATGs actually were.

Fury embarrassed by Wallin, Ngannou, and to some extent Wilder given how terrible Wilder proved to be.
AJ being destroyed by Ruiz and now Dubois.

There is no point in Fury and AJ fighting each other now that both have had their level exposed; I doubt very much Turki would want to pay what both AJ and Fury would still demand anyways.

I was at Usyk v Dubois, Fury v Usyk and AJ v Dubious. It was clear to see the top two are streets ahead of the others. AJ is miles off the top boys, to put Fury into that category just spells bitterness. Unless you don't rate Usyk either as Fury ran him fairly close, too. After timing on Wilder as well.... You're the sort of guy who doesn't rate Frazier beating Ali the first time because of what Larry Holmes did.

[Twinkle Toes]

I wonder why there has been zero mention of Dubois fighting Fury.

There has. Frank was interviewed on it. Tyson is also signed into for a rematch at he moment.

Whatever happens in December Dubois will not be in Fury's plans.

[SeanBrennan]

Whatever Fury does in December, the fight with Joshua is very much diluted and it should have been made years ago.

Yes it's still a massive box office fight but the shine is well and truly dulled.

I don't think the fight will happen now. AJ won't be fighting Fury next outing, that's would be ludicrous and any boxing fan would know it would be a cash out job and nothing more.

AJ cannot take a punch to anywhere on his head and Tyson Fury would certainly hit him. Joshua has plumitted as quick as Mike Tyson did and has no resistance anymore.

If he executes the rematch DD will do a number again but in quicker fashion, possibly 2 rounds. AJ would go into a rematch shitting his pants and how could he beat DD? AJ is no dancer and has limited mobility. DD would walk right through him.

It's really hard to see where they can take AJ now? Who could he realistically beat on a ppv show?

Personally, the only fight is with Fury but again that's just a rob the fans fight for a final hurray and a hard knock out. Fury would smash him in similar fashion to DD.

Yep, Joshua's team are in a bit of a predicament now. I wouldnt be surprised to see them sit out now and wait for Fury. They can't afford another loss and with how shite Joshua was who would bet against it now.

Hopefully Turki says fk you lot and refuses them both the payday.

AJ is still a good option for Turki as he's ideal for sportswashing. Never really does anything bad outside the ring and will say the right things

[veriton]

Id still love to see Fury v Joshua. I really enjoyed Brook v Khan and this would have similar farewell vibes to it.

AJ is in danger of becoming a name to feast on for the likes of Moses Itamu if he hangs around for much longer and I cant see him wanting that.

Best just to sit tight until next summer and then fight Fury to cash out for good.

[SeanBrennan]

Id still love to see Fury v Joshua. I really enjoyed Brook v Khan and this would have similar farewell vibes to it.

AJ is in danger of becoming a name to feast on for the likes of Moses Itamu if he hangs around for much longer and I cant see him wanting that.

Best just to sit tight until next summer and then fight Fury to cash out for good.

Me too

[golden_labrador]

There is no point in Fury and AJ fighting each other now that both have had their level exposed; I doubt very much Turki would want to pay what both AJ and Fury would still demand anyways.

people would still want to see it, if only for the reactions when it's over. it would be a spectacle, loads of potential mad scenes, and people would still pay £££££££ to watch it. I even have a long-standing bet with a Polish uber driver in Durham on the result

[TBA]

Whatever Fury does in December, the fight with Joshua is very much diluted and it should have been made years ago.

Yes it's still a massive box office fight but the shine is well and truly dulled.

I don't think the fight will happen now. AJ won't be fighting Fury next outing, that's would be ludicrous and any boxing fan would know it would be a cash out job and nothing more.

I disagree. As Ariel Herwani alluded to, the best thing for Heavyweight boxing is that everyone has had their cherry popped (well excl Usyk but he is fighting anyone and everyone) and to move away from protecting the 0 like UFC.

This is the heavyweights. Everyone can get caught. But most important is that now Turk has the money to make all the big fights happen. So let's get the money behind the big fighters fighting the big fighters and establishing 8-10 quality heavyweight fighters duelling it out.

AJ vs Fury is still huge and will be huge even if Usyk KOs Fury.

We saw against Ruiz that AJ can come back. Whose to say that they rematch in a big ring (yesterdays was tiny which surprised me) and AJ approaches differently that he can't frustrate Dubois and take a UD.

[TBA]

All depends on Usyk-Fury II now. It'll set up Joshua-Fury perfectly if Usyk wins more comprehensively.

I think it's blatantly clear now (as hindsight always does clarify things) just how overhyped the two former Kings and ATGs actually were.

Fury embarrassed by Wallin, Ngannou, and to some extent Wilder given how terrible Wilder proved to be.
AJ being destroyed by Ruiz and now Dubois.

There is no point in Fury and AJ fighting each other now that both have had their level exposed; I doubt very much Turki would want to pay what both AJ and Fury would still demand anyways.

I was at Usyk v Dubois, Fury v Usyk and AJ v Dubious. It was clear to see the top two are streets ahead of the others. AJ is miles off the top boys, to put Fury into that category just spells bitterness. Unless you don't rate Usyk either as Fury ran him fairly close, too. After timing on Wilder as well.... You're the sort of guy who doesn't rate Frazier beating Ali the first time because of what Larry Holmes did.

Good post.

Fury will outbox everyone in the division, but he also will get caught. WilderX2, Ngganou and Usyk. And Joshua likely too.

Meanwhile Joshua was battered last night. BUT that 5th round. What happens if/when he catches Fury with that type of shot at some point during the fight?

And that's the beauty in this fight happening.

[Riddick Bowie]

We saw against Ruiz that AJ can come back. Whose to say that they rematch in a big ring (yesterdays was tiny which surprised me) and AJ approaches differently that he can't frustrate Dubois and take a UD.

Terrible take. Joshua could run from Ruiz in the rematch because Ruiz was grossly out of shape. Dubois is never going to let himself go like Ruiz did. Dubois would walk straight through Joshua in a rematch.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

All depends on Usyk-Fury II now. It'll set up Joshua-Fury perfectly if Usyk wins more comprehensively.

I think it's blatantly clear now (as hindsight always does clarify things) just how overhyped the two former Kings and ATGs actually were.

Fury embarrassed by Wallin, Ngannou, and to some extent Wilder given how terrible Wilder proved to be.
AJ being destroyed by Ruiz and now Dubois.

There is no point in Fury and AJ fighting each other now that both have had their level exposed; I doubt very much Turki would want to pay what both AJ and Fury would still demand anyways.

Why do people say things like this? I miss the days of the 70s (before my time) and 90s where there were tons of great HW match up, frequently not for titles. Just because neither are best in the world doesn't mean it isn't a great match up and potential fight.

Fight sales are never about who the best in the world is anyway. Tyson was the biggest draw in boxing after he lost to Holyfield. Delahoya was the biggest draw in boxing despite numerous losses. Eubank and Benn were never the best in the divisions they fought in but the biggest draw in British boxing and middleweight/super middleweight boxing too.

[Boxerbeetle]

Yeah Fury vs Joshua would still be a massive massive event, partly as their styles are so different, it would always be intriguing to see how it unfolded. Very different proposition to something like, say, Joshua vs Wilder, which would have only ever been about who landed first.

[Riddick Bowie]

AJ's best bet is Chisora or Whyte (or Joyce?) in spring then see where the title picture is after the dust has settled. Maybe Fury for a vacant title after Usyk retires undefeated?

We surely must all agree now that Joshua has been protected and overrated. A lot of careful matchmaking got him where he is, and I hope the posters from years back who argued that he would beat Lennox Lewis will be more hesitant about boarding future hype trains. I'm not confident he could beat Frank Bruno and Shannon Briggs in the 90s.

A two-time champ for beating Charles Martin and Andy Ruiz. Probably a 100m in the bank. Good lord.

[Boxerbeetle]

I think most of us have always said the current HW division is fairly poor. Joshua, Wilder & Fury all protected in different ways, their collective resumes make dire reading (although not always their fault, of course). I'll give Joshua a lot of credit for not being a regular duck, but yeah he would have been a contender at best in other eras.

[joshj909]

AJ's best bet is Chisora or Whyte (or Joyce?) in spring then see where the title picture is after the dust has settled. Maybe Fury for a vacant title after Usyk retires undefeated?

We surely must all agree now that Joshua has been protected and overrated. A lot of careful matchmaking got him where he is, and I hope the posters from years back who argued that he would beat Lennox Lewis will be more hesitant about boarding future hype trains. I'm not confident he could beat Frank Bruno and Shannon Briggs in the 90s.

A two-time champ for beating Charles Martin and Andy Ruiz. Probably a 100m in the bank. Good lord.

You bring up Charles Martin like it's his biggest win but conveniently ignore Klitschko, Parker, Povetkin, Pulev and Whyte. He unified three belts and beat former, current and future belt holders. You can't deny he has depth in his wins for this era. He also didn't duck Usyk and didn't duck the rematch either, same against Ruiz. He signed to fight Fury and had Hearn offer Wilder a chunk of change for that fight too. He also surely has more mandatory defences than any active heavyweight combined. I think the argument that he has been protected is not a great one.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Whatever Fury does in December, the fight with Joshua is very much diluted and it should have been made years ago.

Yes it's still a massive box office fight but the shine is well and truly dulled.

I don't think the fight will happen now. AJ won't be fighting Fury next outing, that's would be ludicrous and any boxing fan would know it would be a cash out job and nothing more.

I disagree. As Ariel Herwani alluded to, the best thing for Heavyweight boxing is that everyone has had their cherry popped (well excl Usyk but he is fighting anyone and everyone) and to move away from protecting the 0 like UFC.

This is the heavyweights. Everyone can get caught. But most important is that now Turk has the money to make all the big fights happen. So let's get the money behind the big fighters fighting the big fighters and establishing 8-10 quality heavyweight fighters duelling it out.

AJ vs Fury is still huge and will be huge even if Usyk KOs Fury.

We saw against Ruiz that AJ can come back. Whose to say that they rematch in a big ring (yesterdays was tiny which surprised me) and AJ approaches differently that he can't frustrate Dubois and take a UD.

I would argue it's bigger if Fury gets battered, makes it seem a more even contest.

[JC]

I think most of us have always said the current HW division is fairly poor. Joshua, Wilder & Fury all protected in different ways, their collective resumes make dire reading (although not always their fault, of course). I'll give Joshua a lot of credit for not being a regular duck, but yeah he would have been a contender at best in other eras.

Other than the 90s and the 70s, which HW eras do you think are stronger than now?

[Riddick Bowie]

You bring up Charles Martin like it's his biggest win but conveniently ignore Klitschko, Parker, Povetkin, Pulev and Whyte. He unified three belts and beat former, current and future belt holders. You can't deny he has depth in his wins for this era. He also didn't duck Usyk and didn't duck the rematch either, same against Ruiz. He signed to fight Fury and had Hearn offer Wilder a chunk of change for that fight too. He also surely has more mandatory defences than any active heavyweight combined. I think the argument that he has been protected is not a great one.

No mate, not conveniently ignoring them. Parker, Povetkin, Pulev and Whyte are no great shakes historically. If they had been around in, say, the 90s, I'm not sure they'd be any more remembered than Alex Zolkin or Alex Stewart. Just my view, I'm sure you and others disagree. Klitschko was very old and coming off a long lay off, you could be accused of conveniently ignoring that fact when citing him as an example of depth.

The point I'm making is that Joshua, ballsy tho he is, has fought the right guys at the right time. I was fairly certain Dubois would KO him, because I felt if DD went after him AJ wouldn't be able to defend himself or take a punch, which is a bit odd when adjuging a "two time heavyweight champion". Wilder is another one. He is chinny and inept and yet has more title defences than Foreman and Bowe combined. It's embarrassing really, who can become champ now and make millions.

[handsofstone]

Watching the replays of that first knockdown at the end of the first, reminds me so much of Frazier's knockdown of Ali in the last round of their first fight, total opposite hand of course but it's very similar

[tony1234]

I put on the other thread that I fancied Dubois and had fiver on inside the distance at 5/1 which paid for the evening. Too many people thought too much of the Ngannou fight and didn't look at Dubois recent wins.
I was surprised how easy it was for Dubois to catch him with heavy shots and had Joshua all over the place.
I guess if Fury loses then him v Joshua will be the next match.

[mickey1975]

You bring up Charles Martin like it's his biggest win but conveniently ignore Klitschko, Parker, Povetkin, Pulev and Whyte. He unified three belts and beat former, current and future belt holders. You can't deny he has depth in his wins for this era. He also didn't duck Usyk and didn't duck the rematch either, same against Ruiz. He signed to fight Fury and had Hearn offer Wilder a chunk of change for that fight too. He also surely has more mandatory defences than any active heavyweight combined. I think the argument that he has been protected is not a great one.

No mate, not conveniently ignoring them. Parker, Povetkin, Pulev and Whyte are no great shakes historically. If they had been around in, say, the 90s, I'm not sure they'd be any more remembered than Alex Zolkin or Alex Stewart. Just my view, I'm sure you and others disagree. Klitschko was very old and coming off a long lay off, you could be accused of conveniently ignoring that fact when citing him as an example of depth.

The point I'm making is that Joshua, ballsy tho he is, has fought the right guys at the right time. I was fairly certain Dubois would KO him, because I felt if DD went after him AJ wouldn't be able to defend himself or take a punch, which is a bit odd when adjuging a "two time heavyweight champion". Wilder is another one. He is chinny and inept and yet has more title defences than Foreman and Bowe combined. It's embarrassing really, who can become champ now and make millions.

That's a fantastic, well thought out post.