Daniel Dubois is now a heavyweight champion with a target on his back.
Dubois had his epic coming-out night on Saturday at Wembley Stadium in front of more than 96,000 people.
Having been elevated to IBF world champion after his victory over Filip Hrgovic last time out, this was ‘DDD’s first chance to really stake a claim on his belt and he did so in emphatic fashion by knocking former two-time champion Anthony Joshua down several times on his way to a fifth round stoppage victory.
AJ’s team have spoken of a desire to go into an immediate rematch, but Dubois will now have many options, including a potential undisputed fight with the winner of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk in December.
There is another man waiting in the wings for a shot at a world title and that’s Martin Bakole, fresh off an impressive KO of American Jared Anderson in August.
His trainer Billy Nelson has told Seconds Out that Bakole has already made Dubois ‘quit’ in sparring.
“Martin Bakole is levels above Daniel Dubois. Levels. He’s proved it already to him in sparring when he made him quit, broke his nose. He’s done it all with him, and that was only when he was 60% and second gear.
He’ll annihilate Daniel, Daniel knows it. Daniel knows it. If they think I’m talking s**t then make the fight and we’ll prove it gladly. They won’t make the fight. And you know, you can’t blame them. Frank Warren’s team will never, unless Martin becomes the mandatory challenger, fight Daniel Dubois.”
