Daniel Dubois faces a career crossroads at 27. The heavyweight boxer's recent knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk has sparked calls for his retirement, with former world champion Tony Bellew suggesting he should quit if his heart's not in it.
Dubois has been in the spotlight for over five years, fighting on big TV cards, competing stateside, and co-starring in three world title fights. But his career has been marred by accusations of quitting.
The first major setback came against Joe Joyce. Dubois took a knee due to eye damage from Joyce's jab, leading to an upset loss and claims he was a "quitter". In August 2023, Usyk stopped Dubois with a jab in their first encounter. Despite knocking Usyk down with a controversial low blow, Dubois couldn't capitalize, and the quitting accusations resurfaced.
Dubois bounced back impressively. He beat Jarrell Miller, claimed the IBF world title from Filip Hrgovic, and defeated Anthony Joshua. These wins seemed to silence critics questioning his grit and heart.
However, the recent rematch with Usyk ended badly for Dubois. Usyk stopped him inside five rounds. Though Dubois rose and walked to his corner, seemingly clear-headed, it didn't stop new accusations of quitting from Carl Froch, Derek Chisora, and Tony Bellew.
Bellew, a former cruiserweight world champion, didn't hold back. He tweeted:
"I did get up and was up off a heavier shot than that before the count of 8! Thankfully for me the ref stopped it, but as you and I both know, I'll always need saving from myself. Nothing wrong in knowing when you've had enough, I just suggest you leave sport with that kinda attitude."
Despite the criticism, Dubois has vowed to fight on. Talk of a pre-fight party at his house continues to make rounds, but Dubois hasn't commented on the matter.
The young boxer now faces a tough decision. Will he push forward in his career or heed the advice of veterans like Bellew? The boxing world watches closely as Dubois contemplates his next move.
