September 19th 2024.
The tale of Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois' first encounter in the ring has become a well-known story among boxing fans. The two towering fighters will once again face each other at Wembley Stadium this Saturday, with Dubois defending his newly-won IBF title against Joshua, who is aiming to add a third world championship to his name in his hometown.
Sparring is an integral part of a boxer's training, allowing them to test out different techniques and gameplans in a controlled environment away from the public eye. However, it is inevitable that rumors about what happens in these private sessions will emerge and become part of the narrative. In 2016, when Joshua was at the peak of his career and Dubois was just 18 years old and relatively unknown, they sparred at Team GB's Performance Institute in Sheffield, where Joshua had trained for many years as an Olympian.
Dubois' impressive performance in that sparring session caught the attention of promoter Frank Warren, who has been guiding his career ever since. Warren later recalled hearing about a teenager knocking out Joshua, who was already a well-established heavyweight champion. Dubois' skills and power had earned him the respect and trust of one of the biggest names in boxing.
While Dubois has chosen to remain quiet about what happened in that session, Joshua has openly admitted that the young fighter landed a good shot on him. However, he also clarified that it was not as dramatic as some people have made it out to be. Joshua's legs did not give out, and he was able to stay on his feet. Additionally, there were many other people present in the gym that day, so it was not just a one-on-one situation.
The story has since taken on a life of its own, with former Team GB fighter Anthony Fowler claiming that Joshua was close to being knocked out before the session was stopped. Another heavyweight contender, Frazer Clarke, who has sparred with both Joshua and Dubois, prefers to stick to the unspoken code of silence in the boxing world and not reveal what truly happened in that session.
As the fight between Joshua and Dubois approaches, the phrase "sparring is sparring" is often heard, emphasizing that what happens in training does not always translate to a real fight. Both men have gone on to train with different coaches and have evolved as fighters since that encounter eight years ago. Saturday's fight will be the ultimate test for both of them, and the outcome will answer any lingering questions about their abilities. No sparring story, no matter how impressive, can replace the real thing.
The undercard for this highly-anticipated fight includes other exciting matchups between top boxers. However, what happened between Joshua and Dubois in that sparring session so many years ago is now irrelevant. They were in a different environment, and their skills and experience have since evolved. The only thing that matters now is the moment they step into the ring on Saturday night. The showdown between these two giants of the sport will finally put an end to the speculations and build-up, and the real story will be written in the ring.
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