Frank Warren answers Eddie Hearn's claim that Daniel Dubois 'quit' against Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce

04/09/2024 14:56

Frank Warren has defended Daniel Dubois after Eddie Hearn claimed he ‘quit’ in defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce.

Dubois is set to take on Hearn’s charge Anthony Joshua in a huge heavyweight clash at Wembley Stadium on September 21, in a maiden defence of his IBF world title.

Eddie Hearn suggested in an interview with Simon Jordan on Tuesday that Joshua’s rival had decided of his own accord to ‘quit’ in two previous defeats to Joyce in 2020 and Usyk last year.

Dubois’ promoter Warren has hit back at those claims on Wednesday, insisting there were reasons why both fights were stopped.

“He didn’t quit against Joe Joyce, he had his orbital bones in his eyes were broken,” Warren replied on talkSPORT’s White & Jordan.

“They were broken in four places and the specialist said he would have wound up losing sight in his eye with a detached retina.

“Listen if you want to have a look at the medical report, you can. He was out for a long time while it healed.

“I’ll take it up with my new mate, but one things for sure he did not quit against the No.1 mandatory fighter in Filip Hrgovic.

“He was under pressure in the first two rounds and he certainly didn’t quit against Jarrell Miller.”

When pushed by Jordan on his stoppage defeat to Usyk, Warren added: “I don’t think he quit.

“Listen one of my most favourite fighters is Roberto Duran and people say he did against Sugar Ray Leonard.

“In that fight he didn’t quit, he was getting bopped and the fight before that they had stood and traded.

“I’ve seen AJ the second fight he had against Ruiz, he fought entirely on the back foot and he won’t be able to do that against Daniel.

“One thing’s for sure, Daniel at the age of 26 has fought against high quality opposition and is coming into his own.

“If he catches AJ it will be interesting to see his reaction.”

Dubois faced significant adversity in his first career defeat which came against Joyce, as he was battered by the relentless pressure of his rival.

The peppering jab caused significant damage to his face, and he eventually decided to take a knee having been left with significant swelling around his eye.

It was later revealed he had suffered an orbital injury, and sat out for seven months before returning in June 2021.

In August 2023, Dubois took on the biggest test of all against eventual undisputed champion Usyk, falling to snatch the belts from him.

After a knockdown was scored a ‘controversial low blow’, he was eventually blown away by the Ukrainian having gone down twice before the referee halted the contest.

He has since revived his career and holds the IBF title, but will be underdog in his collision with Joshua.

A win against the odds could see him set up a clash with the winner of Usyk’s rematch against Tyson Fury, which is set to take place on December 21.