Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury had a front row seat to watch current heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois destroy Anthony Joshua as Dubois shocked and dropped Joshua four times to score a fifth-round knockout win.
Fury, though, will be fully focused on getting revenge on Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 after losing to the Ukrainian in May. For the first time in his career, “The Gypsy King” was a very interested observer in Dubois’ career-defining victory over Joshua.
“He’s doing a great job. It’s fair play to the young Dan,” Fury told the media as he left Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday night. “Everyone wrote him off, you know, came in he was (IBF) champion and everyone treated him like a fool. He shows what he’s made of. It was great for him, amazing.
“Something went wrong. (For Joshua) That’s what always goes wrong in heavyweight boxing – a nice right to the chin. And that was like that.
“It’s heavyweight boxing, guys. Shit happens. You get electrocuted until you lose consciousness. It could have been me, you, anyone in the heavyweight division. You are one punch away from being pounded and knocked out.”
The same goes for Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO), who has dropped off the canvas many times throughout his career. The Englishman credits his long-time rival for his heroic performance. Moments before Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) was knocked out with a huge right hand. He rocked and shook Dubois (22-2, 21 KO).
“You get hit, and you don’t see many heavyweight boxers get hit. Get knocked down and get up and keep going,” Fury said.
“It depends on (Joshua) what he wants to do (next), if he has good ambitions. He will come back again. He must decide for himself. He is a big kid.”
Joshua, who turns 35 in October Putting an end to talk of retirement immediately after the fight, Fury, 36, who is 14 months older than Joshua, suffered his first defeat to Usyk at age 35. Fury alluded to that age. It was a factor in Joshua’s loss.
“I think it’s a 50-50 fight (going in),” Fury said. “Dubois is 27 years old, a lot younger. AJ is 35 years old like me. Age doesn’t wait for anyone, right? It is what it is.”
Fury and Dubois are promoted by Frank Warren. Fury plans to defeat Usyk to establish an undisputed title shot with his Queensberry teammate.
“I will fight the fucking rabbit and Usyk the ugly bastard. Then reclaim all the belts again I guarantee it,” Fury said. “After I beat Usyk, I will fight Dubois. That is my plan.”
Manuk Agopyan is a sports journalist, author, and broadcast reporter whose credits include ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring. Magazine and more. He has written for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached at X (formerly Twitter)– Instagram– Linkedin and Youtubevia email manouk(dot)akopyan(at)gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com–
