Joshua vs Dubois Feature: Anthony Joshua ‘In Focus’

Four Has Been a Magic Number for Joshua

While there is no disgrace in losing to Usyk, Joshua, going by his post-fight, in-ring nuclear meltdown following his August 2022 split decision defeat to the great Ukrainian, had placed huge expectations upon himself to win that bout. After an eight-month break, Joshua returned in April 2023 against an opponent many levels below that of the division’s main names. Jermaine Franklin Jr. extended Joshua the twelve-round distance but was never really in contention to win the fight at London’s 02 Arena. Joshua, working with a new coach (more on that later), faced criticism for not stopping a limited opponent but he seemed reasonably satisfied with his night’s work.

Four months later, Joshua returned to the same venue. This time, he gave his fans the stoppage win as Robert Helenius, who stepped in on a week’s notice after original foe Dillian Whyte scorched the litmus paper with a positive drug test, was dispatched in the seventh round. Although he took his time, Joshua showed he still had closing power. Fans only had to wait four more months as Joshua closed out his 2023 with a December 23 contest against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card. Joshua weighed in around the 250-pound mark for the third consecutive fight. It appears to be a weight that suits what he’s trying to do at this stage of his career. Wallin was overwhelmed and outclassed to the point where his corner had seen enough after five rounds and decided not to let their man continue.

Joshua was back in the ring in March this year; facing off against MMA fighter turned boxer Francis Ngannou. Although a boxing novice, Ngannou had acquitted himself well on his boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October 2023. Joshua fought aggressively against Ngannou – the English boxer took only two rounds to demolish the former UFC heavyweight champion. Although the bout had a bit of a novelty factor about it, Joshua did his job professionally and clinically.

AJ And The Trainers

As well as making his way back to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division, Joshua has worked with several trainers in recent years. Following his first defeat to Usyk in September 2021, Joshua parted ways with long-term coach Rob McCracken. Joshua and McCraken had been together since the boxer’s amateur days. At the time, the split was regarded as something of a surprise in certain quarters. AJ worked with outstanding trainer Robert Garcia for the Usyk rematch, but their partnership only lasted for that one bout.

Joshua selected another American trainer as he took the first steps on the comeback trail. Derrick James was in AJ’s corner for the Franklin and Helenius fights. Joshua moved to James’ Dallas, TX, base to work with the highly regarded coach. The Helenius bout would end Joshua’s time working with James, as the UK boxer decided to work with a trainer closer to home.

Ben Davison, the man who formerly trained Fury, was the coach Joshua used to prepare for the Wallin fight. Happy with the training and advice he was receiving, Joshua retained Davison for his encounter with Ngannou. Davison is also preparing Joshua for Dubois so it will be interesting to see how their working relationship is evolving as they enter their third fight together. Joshua spoke about Davison’s training style in January and why it suits him. “The reason I was able to gel with Ben is because he doesn’t try to change your style,” Joshua said, according to UK newspaper The Independent.

The boxer continued, “He [Ben] looks at your attributes and adds to what you’re good at. I went to a stage where I was trying to change my style – a bit of backfoot boxing, box behind the jab, stick and move, not be explosive, control the pace, and stuff like that. But Ben was like: ‘That’s not your body type, you’re a big unit, you’re explosive, go and knock people out.’ Basically, he has told me to work to my body type. We got along in that sense. He gets it.”

Joshua’s Evolving Fighting Style

As he explained with the above remarks, there was a time when Joshua appeared to be trying anything in the ring and hoping something worked. With Dubois approaching, it seems like Joshua has a clear view of how he wants to fight, settling on being a boxer-puncher. Joshua knows he has boxing skills he can call upon, but the main objective has to be detonating his power shots. Bringing Davison back for a third fight and scoring stoppage wins in his previous two fights, with him working the corner, will give Joshua the confidence he needs not to become gun-shy against Dubois.

It seems like Joshua is currently in a good place. With a trainer he is comfortable with and a clear vision of how he wants to fight, Joshua has everything in place to extend his winning run to five on Saturday night at Wembley. It won’t be easy, but he has rebuilt himself correctly – now he needs to execute against a dangerous foe.