Former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has launched a scathing attack on Daniel Dubois following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, claiming the British heavyweight "quit" during their high-profile showdown.
Froch, known for his no-nonsense analysis, didn't mince words when assessing Dubois' performance against the Ukrainian champion. "When the going got tough, Dubois got going - straight out of there," Froch stated bluntly.
A Controversial Fifth Round
The fight took a dramatic turn in the fifth round when Dubois landed what many believed to be a legitimate body shot, only for the referee to controversially rule it a low blow. Usyk was given several minutes to recover, a decision that Froch believes changed the course of the match.
"That was a turning point," Froch explained. "Dubois had him hurt, but when the referee intervened, it took the wind out of his sails. After that, he never looked the same fighter."
The Moment of Truth
Froch was particularly critical of Dubois' reaction to Usyk's dominance in the later rounds. "When Usyk started putting the pressure on, Dubois took a knee and didn't want to continue. That's quitting in my book," the Nottingham-born fighter said.
The boxing legend contrasted Dubois' performance with his own famous battles, saying: "I've been in those dark places in the ring. You dig deep, you find something - but Dubois didn't even look for it."
Future Prospects
Despite the harsh words, Froch acknowledged that the 25-year-old Londoner still has time to rebuild his career. "He's young, he's got power, but he needs to work on his mentality," Froch advised. "The heavyweight division is brutal - either you have that dog in you or you don't."
As for Usyk, Froch praised the champion's technical mastery but suggested the Ukrainian might struggle against more aggressive opponents. "He's brilliant, but someone like Fury won't let him dictate the pace like Dubois did," Froch predicted.
