JUST a few weeks after Daniel Dubois’ stunning humbling of Anthony Joshua in Wembley Stadium, the repercussions can still be felt across the heavyweight boxing world. One man who knows a thing or two about competing in a heavyweight dust-up between two Brits, leading to a conclusive finish under the lights, is former king Lennox Lewis. The destructive Dubois delivery was just to his liking.
“Unbelievable performance by Daniel Dubois. I mean, he came out like a champ, he went to work and he threw an unbelievable right hand, which Anthony Joshua’s chin was in the way of, and knocked him down,” Lewis told Boxing News.
“I was actually surprised that he got up from that shot, but he did get up from that shot. It was a great fight. Great night for boxing.”
That final shot Lennox is referencing was one of a handful of clean, bullet blows that had AJ reeling and rocking around the canvas. While Joshua’s heart and resolve have never been in doubt, even in devastating defeat, his opponent has had moments when question marks around his durability and toughness have been raised.
Joshua was knocked down four times against Dubois. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
A full circle rebuild, from the Joe Joyce eye injury to the contentious moments of the Usyk, where he finished prematurely on one knee, to stoppages of contenders Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic. This circle has split into a beautiful redemption arc, leading back to a big fight night knockout.
“Let me tell you, he did the work,” agreed Lewis. “All those fights that he had that you just mentioned was good work for him. He gained experience. He learned from them.
“Together, he put all those fights that he fought and all the learning that took place for him in those fights, he brought that all together and brought it back into this fight with Anthony Joshua. You could say this was the night. This was the night that he slayed the king. He’s definitely the Kingslayer.”
Slaying the king was something Lewis had experienced during his illustrious 14-year career. Twice he was unceremoniously toppled from this throne and twice he gained revenge. Whether Anthony Joshua should pursue the rematch is one question and whether Dubois should be open to oblige (legal contracts not permitting) is another. If AJ gets his wish, how should he right the wrongs of their first meeting, according to the old master?
“Well, it’s going to be kind of like the same thing. Dubois is going to be coming after you and when he’s done that to you the first time, it’s going to be easier for him to do it to you the second time unless you make some drastic changes. If he’s going to do the rematch, he needs to make some drastic changes in his boxing.”
Preparing to go in against the same fighter who has already bludgeoned you is no easy feat. For Lennox, the Rahman return, in particular, was fairly straightforward, as Lewis put it down to one momentary lapse in South Africa that dramatically changed the fight.
“For me, it was easy because of how I lost. I lost with basically a one-punch type of thing. The guy threw a punch and my chin happened to be in the way of it. Before I left the fight, I already knew what I needed to do to win the rematch.
“I had the rematch in my head before I left the ring. For Anthony Joshua going into a rematch, he has to look deep within himself and say, well, does he want it? Then he has to realise, well, what did he do wrong? And then go and right the wrongs, basically.”