Trainer John Pullman weighed in on the upcoming Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois fight, highlighting the timing and growth of both fighters as factors that make the matchup “really interesting.”
The IBF heavyweight title will be on the line Saturday at Wembley Stadium in what serves as a crossroads for Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) and Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs). Dubois, 27, is coming off victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, while Joshua, 34, is on a three-fight knockout streak since teaming up with trainer Ben Davison.
The bout not only has major implications for the British heavyweight scene but also adds clarity to the global heavyweight division. Pullman, who previously worked with heavyweight contender Gerald Washington, said: “This fight is really interesting, especially considering the point it’s happening in both fighters’ careers. Dubois seems to be growing up after that tough loss to Joe Joyce. Usually, when a fighter gives up in a bout, mentally and spiritually, it’s hard to come back. But Dubois seems to have taken a hard look in the mirror, surrounded by strong people like his father and new trainer Don Charles, who dragged him through the mud, if you will.”
Pullman pointed to Dubois’ resilience in his recent bouts as evidence of his maturity.
“When he fought Jarrell Miller, who is a tough guy with an iron chin and questionable tactics, Dubois stuck with it, moved his feet, and that was a growing-up moment for him. He also impressed me against Filip Hrgovic, who cracked him with big shots, but Dubois weathered the storm and stopped him. He’s on a high right now,” Pullman added.
On Joshua, Pullman noted a similar up-and-down career trajectory but credited his recent form to his partnership with trainer Ben Davison.
“Joshua is a high-caliber athlete with a better skill set and more explosiveness. I lean towards him in this fight, but if Dubois can take him past rounds six or seven, anything’s possible.”
When asked about the potential impact of Dubois’ controversial loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Pullman acknowledged the psychological challenge of thinking you’ve won a fight, only to realize you haven’t.
“That happens. I remember Micky Ward thought he won a fight against Arturo Gatti for a second, and it’s hard to shift back into battle mode after releasing all that emotion. Dubois may have experienced something similar.”
As for keys to victory, Pullman emphasized the importance of Dubois’ defense.
“Dubois needs to be tight early. He can’t take the kind of right hands he took from Hrgovic in the early rounds against Joshua. For Joshua, it’s about landing big punches early and establishing the jab. If Dubois can withstand the early onslaught and avoid big shots, his style suits a later-round fight better. But if Joshua gets his jab going, he could stop Dubois in the first half of the fight.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
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