Daniel Dubois lost his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk last weekend. The heavyweight fight ended with Dubois on the canvas after a second knockdown in the fifth round.
The 27-year-old Dubois rose quickly through the ranks but faced setbacks along the way. He got accused of quitting against Joe Joyce in 2020. Last August, he fought Usyk in Poland. Then, in September, his confidence soared when he knocked out Anthony Joshua to defend the IBF world title.
This recent loss to Usyk sparked controversy. Dubois stood up and walked back to his corner after the count finished. This led to accusations that he took "the easy way out."
Tony Bellew, a former WBC cruiserweight champion, shared his thoughts on Dubois's performance. He told The Ring:
"The question needs to be asked, who are you boxing for, why are you doing this? Is it to impress someone? Is it to get on their good side? He ain't fighting for money. He was financially secure a long time ago. When he gets into these really hard moments in a fight, that's when the real Daniel comes out. The real Daniel doesn't want to fight."
Bellew compared Dubois's situation to his own experience. He said he got up from a heavier shot against Usyk before the count of 8. The referee stopped that fight, but Bellew admits he always needs saving from himself.
On Twitter, Bellew suggested Dubois should consider leaving the sport. He wrote:
"Nothing wrong in knowing when you've had enough, I just suggest you leave sport with that kinda attitude."
Despite this advice, Dubois has vowed to fight on. Meanwhile, Usyk, the WBO title holder, will likely defend his title against Joseph Parker, the WBO mandatory challenger.
Bellew says he's a big fan of Dubois and his sister. He believes there's nothing wrong with knowing when you've had enough. But he questions if Dubois has the right attitude for the tough moments in boxing.
