Daniel Dubois received a verbal onslaught from Andy Lee, during his face-off with Joseph Parker, with the Irish trainer taking issue with the way the heavyweight’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk finished.
The boxers will compete for the IBF world title on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Andy Lee puts it on Daniel Dubois over the way the Oleksandr Usyk clash finished
On August 26, 2023, Daniel Dubois traveled to Wroclaw, Poland, for an epic battle with Oleksandr Usyk.
In a moment that nearly changed the course of boxing history, ‘Triple D’ landed a shot that sent the Ukrainian hurtling toward the canvas.
However, while many believed it was a legal shot, the referee ruled it a low blow, with the champion getting five minutes to recover.
When the action recommenced, Usyk took over, gradually wearing his opponent down, putting Dubois on the floor with a jab.
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In a bizarre turn of events that resulted in Dubois being referred to as a ‘quitter,’ despite being capable of standing up, he decided to remain on one knee.
While the warrior has since proven his heart in abundance against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, Andy Lee, who’s training the Brit’s next opponent, Joseph Parker, has gained a great deal of confidence from what transpired that night.
During the Face-Off, the Irish coach engaged the 27-year-old in a war of words, asserting: “There is a lot of talk of Daniel fighting Usyk, and you’ve fought him already. In that fight, you went down off a jab. The fight ended off a jab.
“What was going through your mind? If you’re in the same position with Joseph, how are you gonna face it?”
Dubois replied: “That was a completely different situation. Look at the last three opponents.”
An insistent Lee stuck by his guns, claiming: “When you’re in those same positions and under the same pressure, you’ll revert back to type.”
The reigning heavyweight King denies this, saying: “Maybe you would, I’ve seen it in your career, I’ve seen you fight, you probably would, but not me.”
The former WBO middleweight world champion chuckled: “Knockout artist.”
Daniel Dubois names Oleksandr Usyk and three other men on four-man list of opponents he wants to fight
While Usyk may have gotten the better of him last time, Dubois is convinced he still has what it takes to dethrone the legend.
And he made that abundantly clear when he jumped in the ring to call out his rival after the former undisputed cruiserweight champion beat Tyson Fury for the second time.
However, he’s not the only man the Londoner wants to take on, with the power puncher naming a four-man hit list.