Boxing
Dubois' less talking more fighting approach could be about to pay off
Wardley vs. Dubois: Only on DAZN PPV - May 9
Daniel Dubois just wants to fight.
His moment of reckoning is fast approaching as he prepares to face Fabio Wardley for the WBO belt on Saturday night, but his final days before that important battle have been overtaken by numerous awkward interviews that have seen Dubois get up and leave.
Operating at the highest level for a number of years now, Dubois is more than aware of what a huge fight week entails, as public workouts, being dragged from interviewer to interviewer, congested press conferences, and the weigh-in are all common fixtures that fighters cannot afford to ignore.
Daniel Dubois: This is why I am better than Fabio Wardley
Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier - Saturday, May 9 - Buy here
Urged by their promotional companies to lap this attention up in the hope of shifting some last minute tickets and engineering huge PPV sales, fighters become adverts in those final days as they tell the public why Saturday night matters.
But this is also the time when the pressure increases on some boxers and the need to become a salesman or woman is not as important as the result of the fight.
Dubois clashes with Helwani
Sitting with DAZN earlier this week, Dubois was asked some fair questions regarding boxing on whether he loves to fight and what his best and worst things about boxing. After saying winning was his favourite thing, Dubois refused to answer what his worst thing about the sport was, then asked if he could cancel the session.
No reason was provided for his exit, but it didn't prove to be a one-off as Ariel Helwani found out later on. Early in their piece on Helwani’s show, Dubois made it abundantly clear that he prefers to fight and would rather not do interviews, but he did admit to realising they were necessary.
After revealing he was in fight mode as the reason for some answers, Helwani accused Dubois of not liking him, and there was also a strange section that focused on Oliver Twist, with the host saying his son’s name was Oliver.
Helwani then mentioned that he defended Dubois when his heart was questioned after losing to Joe Joyce in 2020, which further antagonised Dubois, who asked why Helwani would bring up one of the worst moments of his nine-year career.
Dubois ended the interview as Helwani accepted his decision with a laugh.
Later on, Helwani showed some class on social media, taking full responsibility for the disastrous interview and blaming himself for how it played out.
“I’ve interviewed Dynamite Dubois before and have always enjoyed it. This one was on me. I should have and could have done a much better job.
"Much love and respect to DDD, always. Looking forward to the fight this weekend,’ wrote Helwani on X, but with the interview already seen by a huge audience, Dubois’ manner in these situations has now become a focal point of the fight.
It is clear that Dubois possesses a shy personality and that his mission in boxing is to just be the best fighter possible, rather than being a multi-layered showman capable of charming people into arenas and stadiums with sharp wit and soundbites.
That’s fine, boxing has an assortment of characters, and Dubois is more than capable of doing the fighting, whilst those desperate to see him succeed, like Frank Warren and Sam Jones, can do his talking for him.
A man that just wants to fight
Dev Sahni, who has worked closely with Queensberry Promotions for many years, has an outstanding relationship with Dubois, and he was quick to defend the former world champion as soon as his awkward interviews became viral on social media.
Speaking to DAZN News in the hours that followed, Sahni was eager to explain Dubois’ position on fight week.
“I’ve known Daniel for nearly ten years. He is a brilliant character and a funny guy with a good heart. As with any fighter, if you are good with them, they are good with you.
"However, if you are using a certain tone and poking at things that don’t need poking at days away from fight night, the likelihood is that a fighter will disengage.”
Dubois is fully aware of what happens on fight week, but there is no doubt that his career has faced more severe scrutiny in the last two years following high profile contests with Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, both at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
Has that increase in media activity taken its toll on his makeup, or are the high stakes involved with Saturday’s showdown just too much of a priority when he is trying to keep everything grounded?
Dubois has been short and to the point this week, and that might not go down well with some sections of the boxing media. If he can be short and to the point against Wardley this weekend, the approach may be well worth it, and that may just matter more to the man who prefers action instead of words.
Watch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois this Saturday, May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with the Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
