Barry McGuigan thinks one potential future opponent could cause huge problems for Daniel Dubois having seen them together in the gym.
McGuigan’s son Shane trained Dubois for a number of fights earlier in his career so he has seen him up close in the gym.
He is now a world champion who has knocked out Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua in his last three fights. However, the work doesn’t stop there – one man waiting for his shot is Martin Bakole, who has not been shy in telling the world how his past sparring sessions with the champion have played out.
Bakole is scheduled to fight Efe Ajagba in New York this May and, should he win, he will become the next mandatory challenger for Dubois’ title.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, McGuigan had plenty of praise for the Congolese-born big puncher.
“I think he’s a tremendous talent, he’s the biggest threat in the heavyweight division. I think he’s kryptonite for Dubois. Ironically enough I think he’s going to be a major issue for Usyk if he gets round to fighting for that title.
“He’s a real problem. He’s just 6ft 6, 280lbs, he’s got fast hands, he’s not a dynamite puncher, got a rock solid chin, walks you down, throws volume.”
He was then asked why this presents a problem for Dubois.
“Simply because he can take a great shot. If you hit somebody flat out on the chin and he doesn’t go down, your sphincter starts going at 100 miles an hour … You hit someone flat out on the chin and they walk forward and it just bounces off, it’s the most horrible situation.
“Oh yes [he’s been hit by someone like Dubois before]. He’s sparred loads and loads of rounds with Dubois. He knows what Daniel’s power is like.”
Dubois has been improving with each fight of late. Next up is a defence of his IBF world title against Joseph Parker on February 22 which presents another tough night.
