Daniel Dubois has been adding layers to his game following his crushing defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, according to his 'Head of Boxing Performance Analysis', Mohammed Ali. The British heavyweight returns to the ring this Saturday night to face WBO champion Fabio Wardley in an all-British showdown.
No Tune-Up Fight for Dubois
Dubois has not fought since his brutal knockout loss to Usyk at Wembley Stadium in front of over 90,000 fans last July. Rather than taking a tune-up fight, he has chosen to face a dangerous opponent in Wardley. Ali explained that the team has not overhauled their approach but instead added layers to Dubois' strengths.
"Well, you don't really change anything. What you do is you add layers to what he's good at," Ali told Mirror Fighting. "It was a learning experience. Daniel Dubois is a very tough individual—tough fighter, physically, mentally. He applies himself in the highest of ways. Even when he's not in camp, he's still in camp."
Determination to Become Two-Time Champion
Ali praised Dubois' mindset, noting that he thrives as an underdog. "He's got an underdog mentality, and he kind of thrives from that. You get him to perform when he's doubted and looked at as an underdog. It couldn't get bigger. We know it's a world title fight. He's right back into it again."
Dubois' decision to go straight into a title fight after a loss shows his determination. "Most fighters when they lose their world title will go back and have a warm-up fight. However, he's just gone in there and said, 'Let's go again.' That shows his determination to become two-time world champion," Ali added.
History in the Making
Ali sees the fight as an opportunity to create history for British boxing. "It's a different belt, it's a different opponent. So it's just history in the making really, and that's what we're there to deliver—is create another history for British boxing."
The fight takes place in Manchester this Saturday, with Dubois aiming to reclaim a world title and silence his critics.
