Anthony Joshua backs Daniel Dubois' choice to pull out of his fight with Joseph Parker. The former heavyweight champion shared his thoughts in a recent chat with iFL TV.
Joshua knows both fighters well. He beat Parker on points in 2018, unifying world titles in a fight that went the full 12 rounds for the first time in his career. More recently, Dubois knocked out Joshua in the fifth round last September, ending AJ's bid to become a three-time champion.
Dubois, the current IBF champion, had to withdraw from his bout with Parker due to a viral infection. His team stuck to their guns, saying they had no choice but to follow the doctor's orders. Some folks questioned how serious the illness really was.
Joshua thinks Dubois made the right call. He told iFL TV:
"You've got to be 100% to win and defend the title. Credit to his dad, everyone needs a father figure sometimes or someone you respect to tell you listen son, don't get in that ring unless you're a 100%, it's important. You've got to be 100%. Having a father figure, or a father in your life, a senior figure that you respect. That could have been Dubois tonight but he's still IBF champion so he lives to fight another day."
AJ knows a thing or two about fighting when you're not at your best. He lost his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr back in June 2019 when Ruiz stepped in as a last-minute replacement. Joshua bounced back to win the rematch, but then lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, dropping all his belts.
Joshua's own loss to Dubois in September shows how quickly things can change in boxing. That's why he stresses the importance of being fully fit and having good advice.
With Dubois out, Parker ended up fighting Martin Bakole instead. He made short work of the replacement, knocking him out in just two rounds.
Dubois now has some choices to make. He could rematch Usyk for all the belts, give Parker his promised shot, or maybe even fight Joshua again. The smart money's on him going for the four-belt clash with Usyk.
Joshua's words remind us that a fighter's health comes first. Many boxers have stepped into the ring when they weren't 100% and lived to regret it. Dubois' decision might change some future fights, but he's still got that IBF belt and, as Joshua puts it, he "lives to fight another day."
You can watch Joshua's full interview on iFL TV's YouTube channel.
