Dubois-Joshua Preview

 On September 21st, the Boxing world will converge on the legendary Wembley Stadium for a significant event in Boxing’s Heavyweight division. Before we can talk about this event, however, we must briefly go back to the recent history of the sport to the last major event in the Heavyweight division. This observer is referring to the much-anticipated unification bout between undefeated world champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, which took place in Saudi Arabia on May 18th.

A unification bout, which saw Usyk emerge as the Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world, becoming the first fighter in Boxing history to successfully unify all five major sanctioning organizations to become a fully undisputed champion. As monumental as that moment in history was in seeing the first undisputed champion in the division crowned in twenty-five years, an element of the business of the sport loomed over the occasion. The fact that there was both a mandatory rematch clause as well as a separate mandatory title defense obligation by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), which conflicted with each other. 

Unfortunately, conflict would mean that there would only be one world champion in the division for several months as Usyk would be contractually unable to fulfill his obligation to the IBF due to his upcoming rematch with Fury in December, which resulted in him relinquishing the IBF crown and IBF number one mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois being named the IBF Heavyweight world champion. Dubois, who nearly dethroned Usyk when they fought in August 2023 now prepares to make the first defense of his world title in Wembley Stadium against former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in a showdown that can be seen globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

While some have already chosen to discredit this encounter as a legitimate world championship fight, a point of view not shared by yours truly for the obvious reasons of regulations and policies needing to be followed and per those policies, this is a legitimate world championship fight, it does nevertheless bring together two of the division's feared “Knockout Artists." 

For the champion Daniel Dubois, he will enter this title defense having scored two impressive knockout wins in his two bouts since he lost to Usyk against Jarrell Miller in December of last year and Filip Hrgovic in June of this year. Dubois has scored knockouts in twenty of his twenty-one career wins registering a 95% career knockout percentage. The criticism of the champion, however, has been what happened to him in his two losses to Joe Joyce and Usyk where he suffered knockout losses.

 Despite suffering a broken left eye socket in his fight with Joyce in November 2020, and being broken down by Usyk, the perception of some was that Dubois quit under pressure in those fights. Although Dubois has shown the ability to bounce back well from those setbacks, he still has to combat that perception. 

If one is looking for Dubois to be tested under circumstances where the pressure will be high due in part to the “Big Fight Atmosphere," that test will likely come against Anthony Joshua.

By now, the story of Anthony Joshua is well known. A former Olympic Gold medalist and two-time unified Heavyweight world champion who is a future Hall of Famer and has spent most of his career competing in the “Big Fight Atmosphere." Much like Dubois, Joshua has suffered setbacks along the way and has also suffered two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Manny Boxing fans will recall that Usyk ended Joshua's second reign as a world champion in September 2021 via decision and then lost a decision in their rematch in August 2022. Since those setbacks, Joshua has rebounded winning his last four fights, three coming via knockout. In his last outing in March, Joshua scored a second round knockout of former UFC Heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou.

While the victory over the novice boxer in Ngannou was not surprising to menu given the significant difference in experience between the boxer Joshua and the MMA star Ngannou, the third consecutive knocked in the span of less than a year showed that Joshua is still a force in the division and will enter this fight rated number three in the IBF ratings. What this fight represents for Joshua is not only an opportunity to regain a version of the World Heavyweight championship, but if he were to be successful, to enter his name into a select group of fighters in the history of the sport to have won the World Heavyweight championship on three separate occasions.

It is logical based on the styles of the two fighters to think of the possibility of a short, but potentially explosive fight given the power each fighter has. The question this observer has is whether the knowledge each fighter has of what the other can do will cause them to take a more tentative approach early on. Both fighters are capable of ending a fight with one punch so the possibility of one or both being gun shy at least early is a real one. An additional thing one should keep in mind is both champion and challenger have been known to fatigue the longer a fight goes on. While that has not always translated into losses for either, it is nevertheless, something to keep an eye on. 

Beyond a version of the World Heavyweight championship being at stake in this fight, what looms ahead also seems obvious for the winner. To put themselves in position to potentially fight the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch to once again determine one Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world. So much is at stake for both fighters, not just in terms of the often debated term “Legacy,” but also significant money to be made. We will see who will be able to take a step forward and move himself into the position to potentially fight for “Undisputed.”

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Dubois vs. Joshua takes place on Saturday, September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View for $19.99. The broadcast will begin at 10:30AM ET/7:30AM PT with The DAZN Boxing Show previewing the event with the Boxing action beginning at 11:30AM ET/ 8:30AM PT. (*U.S. Start Times Only*)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, to subscribe, for region specific pricing, and to order this pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

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Foster-Nova Preview

The weekend of February 17, 2024 was to be centrally focused on the unification bout between undefeated Heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world, which was to have taken place in Saudi Arabia. As most know, the fight will not be taking place due to a severe gash suffered by Fury over the WBC champion’s right eye, which has for the moment halted what could still happen at some point later this year, despite the numerous conspiracy theories that are being shared throughout the sport.

For those looking for a theory or a would be “Hot Take” from this observer, you have unfortunately come to the wrong place, or should I say, chosen to read the wrong column penned by yours truly. Rather than spending what would amount to a waste of time and energy discussing theories, which may or may not have basis depending on your own perspective as a valued reader, I would much rather spend time talking about a world championship fight that at least as of this writing is still on the schedule. A fight that will not be taking place in Saudi Arabia, but rather a more familiar setting to many Boxing fans, The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, where on Friday, February 16th, WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion O'Shaquie Foster will make the second defense of his world championship against current WBC number twelve rated Jr. Lightweight contender Abraham Nova. A twelve round world championship bout that can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+.

Foster, who won the WBC Jr. Lightweight world championship in February of last year with a twelve round unanimous decision over Rey Vargas, now prepares to make his second defense shortly after the one year anniversary of his becoming a world champion. In his last bout, Foster successfully defended his title with a twelfth round stoppage of Eduardo Hernandez in October of last year.

The current landscape of the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division is one that is wide open with five current world champions atop the division. When such a scenario occurs in the sport, there is usually a question of which of the current world champions can emerge as the division’s central figure, which in turn could at least in theory, pave the way to potential unification bouts with the assumed goal of establishing one world champion. Foster now prepares to make a case for himself as potentially that central figure against Abraham Nova.

Nova, a veteran of twenty-four professional fights, has only lost one bout in his career, which came in June 2022 when he was knocked out in five rounds at the hands of Robeisy Ramirez, coincidentally in the same venue where this fight will take place. Since that setback, Nova has won back to back fights via decision. Although he is rated just outside of the top ten in the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Jr. Lightweight ratings, he does have punching power in having scored sixteen knockouts in his twenty-three career wins, in registering a near 70% career knockout percentage. From a statistical standpoint, this gives him at least on paper a slight edge compared to the champion, who will come into the fight with a record of 21-2, with 12 Knockouts, which gives Foster a career knockout percentage of just over 57%.

While sometimes statistics turn out to be little more than information on a piece of paper or a screen on a given device, what those numbers should indicate is both champion and challenger do have the ability to get an opponent out of there should the opportunity present itself. As for whether or not that opportunity will emerge in this fight, only time will tell.

At his best, O'Shaquie Foster is a very well-balanced boxer that is very compact in how he throws his punches, has good lateral movement, and is a world-class counter puncher. There have been times however, where he has been clipped by punches in the midst of exchanges. While those instances have not manifested in the form of getting knocked out, it is something the champion needs to keep in mind when going against a fighter that has power as Nova has.

On the flip side of the equation, the challenge for Abraham Nova is going to be whether he can limit Foster’s ability to move and cut the ring off where the terms of the combat and how it is fought may be more in his favor. It may be a task that is easier said than done given Foster's hand speed and his ability to be accurate with his punches. Nova must be tactical and avoid being overly aggressive due to the aforementioned attributes in Foster’s skillset if he wants to be successful in this fight.

While this fight does not have a sub-plot, at least going into it, of it possibly leading to a potential unification bout later this year for the winner, what it does have is a story of a world champion looking to establish himself as the best in his division going against a fighter that has the biggest opportunity in his career before him. Sometimes there is not much needed other than what looks to be a competitive fight on paper, with a world championship on the line, and it taking place in the historic Madison Square Garden. It is up to Foster and Nova to determine how this story will conclude.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Foster vs. Nova takes place on Friday, February 16th at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 5:15PM ET/2:15PM PT.  

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

(*Card and Start Time Subject to Change.*)

(*Check your local listings internationally.*)

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