Anthony Joshua Sets the Record Straight: The Truth Behind Daniel Dubois’ Alleged Knockout in Sparring
As the countdown to his fight against Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium begins, Anthony Joshua has taken a stand to clarify the swirling rumors about their past sparring sessions.
Despite their upcoming clash marking their first professional bout against each other, Joshua and Dubois have sparred before. Rumors have circulated, mainly fueled by unverified social media accounts, claiming that Dubois knocked Joshua out during a sparring session in 2016.
Joshua, however, has refuted these claims. In an interview with Sky Sports, he dismissed the rumors, stating, “He just landed a good shot, but I stayed on my feet. I don’t know where this whole narrative of someone turning my lights off came from.”
He emphasized that there were numerous witnesses present during the sparring session who can attest to his version of events. “There were a lot of people in the gym that day as well. With me, there’s always been like an inch that makes a mile. But it’s all good,” Joshua added.
While Joshua has addressed the speculation, Dubois has remained silent, which has only fueled the rumors further. The pre-fight talk will soon be a thing of the past as Joshua and Dubois prepare to face off in less than two weeks, both looking to build on their recent comebacks.
Joshua, 34, and Dubois, 26, are at pivotal points in their careers. Both have been working to rebuild their reputations following defeats by Oleksandr Usyk. Dubois has bounced back from his August 2023 loss to Usyk with victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, while Joshua has rebounded from his double defeat by Usyk with wins against Jermaine Franklin Jr., Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou.
Dubois has expressed his ambitions, stating, “AJ’s been the king for a long time, and on the night, I need to become a king slayer.” He added, “I’m learning more about myself as a fighter, coming out of the darkness and into the light, improving all around as a fighter and as an athlete.”
The anticipation builds as Joshua and Dubois prepare to settle their score in the ring, promising an electrifying bout
