I witnessed Daniel Dubois turn Anthony Joshua’s ‘legs to jelly’ in famous spar

DUK Editor TeamSeptember 10, 2024

Anthony Fowler has set the record straight on Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois’ famous sparring session.

After turning over as a professional in 2017, rumors began to swirl around boxing circles that Dubois had either dropped or knocked out Joshua in sparring when he was a sprightly 18-year-old.

Dubois turned Joshua’s legs to jelly, according to FowlerCredit: Frazer Clarke – Twitter

The spar took place in 2016, the same year that Joshua dethroned Charles Martin to become IBF heavyweight champion, while Dubois was a novice amateur at the time.

His promoter Frank Warren proudly told the press a year later that his new signing had sent Joshua tumbling to the canvas when they shared the ring together at the GB Performance Institute in Sheffield.

Ahead of their September 21 showdown at Wembley Stadium, the sparring stories have become a major talking point once again.

Dubois has remained coy on the topic, while Joshua insists there is no substance to the rumors.

However, Fowler – who was on the Team GB squad at the time and witnessed the spar unfold in front of his eyes – claims Dubois had Joshua on unsteady legs and could have knocked him out.

He told talkSPORT.com: “They were just sparring normally. Dubois was really young so he wasn’t really trying to win the rounds.

“I wouldn’t say he was in survival mode but he wouldn’t take many risks.

“He was very cagey sparring Joshua. Obviously, Joshua was the main man on the team so he was always quite wary, but he always punched really hard.

“I remember he hit Frazer Clarke so hard that he snapped his ankle.

“He fell to the floor and snapped his ankle. After that, he was walking around with a cast so he’s always had that real power Dubois.

Fowler (pictured) was part of Team GB and so ringside for Joshua and Dubois' famous spar — Fowler (pictured) was part of Team GB and so ringside for Joshua and Dubois’ famous sparCredit: GETTY

Now, the heavyweight titans are set to duke it out at Wembley Stadium on September 21Credit: Getty

“Joshua must have been a little clumsy sparring him and he got caught with a short left hook and Joshua’s legs completely went.

“Dubois could have hit him again and put him to sleep but Dubois had a bit too much respect for him to finish him off.

“Obviously, everyone was stood there like ‘Wow’ and Joshua went and jogged around the ring because his legs were like jelly and he was trying to get his legs back.

“And everyone was going ‘Wait, wait, wait’. Joshua wanted to carry on but Rob McCracken was like ‘Have a little break, get your legs back to normal, and then spar’ and then they continued sparring.

“He didn’t knock him out, he didn’t hit the floor but he was really, really hurt.

“Dubois probably could have hit him again and knocked him out but he chose not to out of respect.”

Joshua and Dubois will finally get the opportunity to settle their score once and for all in less than two weeks’ time.

AJ is a favourite with the bookies but having seen both men exchange leather up close, Fowler has a good idea of the damage Dubois can inflict if presented with an opening.

He added: “Joshua used to get the better of most of the sparring but Dubois nearly knocked him out with 18oz gloves and headguards so if he catches him with those 10oz gloves Joshua will be going to sleep.”