Daniel Dubois

Daniel Dubois (born 6 September 1997) is a British heavyweight boxer noted for exceptional punching power and a seek-and-destroy style behind a heavy jab and right hand. Born in Greenwich, London, he is 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) tall with a 78 in (198 cm) reach and fights orthodox. A decorated amateur (five national junior titles and British senior champion), he left the GB setup to turn professional with Queensberry Promotions in 2017.

Dubois rose quickly through domestic and regional levels, collecting the WBC Youth, Southern Area, English, WBO European, British and Commonwealth titles. After a run of early stoppages over the likes of Nathan Gorman, Ebenezer Tetteh and Kyotaro Fujimoto, he suffered a first defeat to Joe Joyce in November 2020 (RTD after orbital injury). He rebounded to claim the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title by stopping Trevor Bryan in June 2022 and survived three knockdowns to halt Kevin Lerena that December.

Ordered to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, Dubois lost by ninth-round stoppage in August 2023 amid controversy over a fifth-round body shot ruled low. He revived his campaign with a standout tenth-round TKO of Jarrell Miller in December 2023, then scored the best win of his career by forcing a doctor’s stoppage over previously unbeaten Filip Hrgović in June 2024. When Usyk later vacated, Dubois was elevated to IBF heavyweight champion (June 2024).

Dubois made a first IBF defense with a headline upset, knocking out Anthony Joshua in round five at Wembley in September 2024 after scoring multiple knockdowns. A planned February 2025 defense versus Joseph Parker fell through when Dubois withdrew ill during fight week. Talks then produced an undisputed rematch with Usyk at Wembley on 19 July 2025, where Usyk regained supremacy by fifth-round KO in a largely one-sided bout.

Despite Dubois being lanky compared to many heavyweights, he doesn't sacrifice power and seldom gets entangled in exchanges. His agile footwork enables him to jab in and out with synchronized, explosive movements. Dubois excels at ensuring his punches connect with force, each thrown with the intent to unsettle his opponent. His combinations are not erratic; they aim to disrupt opponents and allow him to adjust his attacks while pivoting around them, keeping them guessing and constantly readjusting throughout the match.

What's fascinating about DuBois is his skill when moving off the back leg, utilizing backward jabs to counter opponents' power shots and create openings for a step-back counter. His right hand generates remarkable power through a technique involving a sequence of foot, leg, and arm movements, creating a surprising and devastating blow, almost as if time slows down, with his toes digging into the canvas to amplify the force behind his punch. Moreover, he can employ his right hand like a power jab, targeting both head and body, thus altering the rhythm of his powerful strikes. It can be seen often when Dubois throws a 1-3 or a 1-6.

Dubois also adeptly avoids keeping his head on the centerline; he moves it not just laterally but also vertically, forcing opponents to engage him from various angles and heights, a skill essential in the dynamic world of heavyweight boxing contests.

In the biggest fight of his life in August 2023 against Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight titles, controversy arose in the fifth round due to a punch from Dubois that was ruled a low blow by referee Luis Pabon, despite causing Usyk to drop to the canvas. There's such a controversial blow that many analysts around the world claimed Dubois should have been crowned the new heavyweight champion of the world for the knockdown.