Daniel Dubois could end Anthony Joshua‘s career, suggests promoter Frank Warren ahead of their IBF heavyweight world title showdown.
Warren, who promotes Dubois, believes a crushing loss at Wembley on September 21 could send Joshua into retirement.
“It’s how you lose a fight. If he lost the fight convincingly, it would be hard for him to come back if he wanted to carry on,” Warren told Sky Sports News. “But he could lose a close fight or by a debatable decision. Anything can happen in boxing.”
Though he added: “The pressure is on AJ. He’s the bookmaker’s favourite, the fans’ favourite, and obviously the better known boxer of the two, certainly in the UK. Everything is on him.”
Ahead of the fight, Joshua and Dubois were pulled apart by security after tempers flared, Warren expects his fighter to take advantage of that though.
“These are two British guys on a roll, coming off some good wins, although I believe Daniel’s opponents have been superior and better quality than AJ’s,” he said.
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“AJ’s got more of the experience but there comes a time in boxing when it’s a young man’s game. I believe this young man [Dubois] is on his game at the moment and I do think he’ll come away as the victor.”
Both fighters are famed for their punch-power. Warren explained what he believes will be decisive in the contest:
“I doubt it will be a draw, because I don’t think it will go the distance. There will be a winner.
“Out of these two guys, it’s hard to differentiate the punch-power. They are both big punchers, both have good jabs.
“It’s going to be who has the better chin. Because one thing is for sure, when they are in the ring, big punchers let their right hand go and they become vulnerable and expose their chin for the counter.
“It’s how who gets caught reacts to that. Whoever gets on the back foot in this fight is not going to win it.