DANIEL DUBOIS pulled off a sensational eighth-round stoppage of Filip Hrgovic to earn promoter Frank Warren a beating over Eddie Hearn.
The 26-year-old got off to a terrible start in the fourth fight of the 5v5 tournament, eating his right hands like hamburgers.
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But in the seventh round he bit his mouth guard and rescued his career, making it 8-0 to Warren and potentially setting up a September superfight with Anthony Joshua.
The first goal started fairly evenly, but Dubois suddenly decided to stop defending the 31-year-old Croatian’s right hand.
At least half a dozen basic right hands flew up and landed on the Brit’s vulnerable skull.
It was a worrying start for the mild-mannered Londoner.
The second went in the same direction and Dubois’ left eye began to swell and close, with plenty of time remaining in the fight.
Fortunately for his worried ringside fans, Dubois landed a few right hands and a left hook right at the bell that cut Hrgovic’s right eye.
The bloodied Hrgovic seemed to be signaling as early as the third, but Dynamite Dan still let him land every right hand he threw.
Dubois annoyingly refused to keep his left hand up and protect his face, so Hrgovic continued to hit him with straight rights, but none of them seemed to be doing much damage.
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Clear damage was done to Hrgovic’s eye, which should have been like a bright red target for Dubois to attack.
Hrgovic landed an overhand shot just as the bell to end the fifth rang, knocking the sweat off Dubois’ head, but the tough Englishman somehow shrugged it off and tried to exchange shots before walking smoothly to his corner.
Dubois, who rightly had his heart questioned after surrendering in defeats to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, never stopped trying and refused to wilt despite the total defeat of the right hand he ate.
The seventh may have been the most seminal of Dubois’ career, as he completely tore up the script and pushed Hrgovic to the limit.
Dubois landed a series of kicks, never landed a single right and caused the 2016 Olympic bronze winner to be touched and saved by the bell, with both of his eyes now cut with deep cuts.
The second round had barely started when the referee took Hrgovic to a neutral corner and called the doctor.
After a brief examination of both eyes and a whisper in the referee’s ear, the fight was called off and Dubois awarded the incredible victory to Dubois and his loyal mentor who rebuilt him after two heartbreaking defeats.
He has now set up a showdown with Joshua and Dubois said of the potential fight: “Hopefully the next opponent is AJ, so let’s go. This is my era and this is my time.”
Dubois added: I have total respect for the guy, going through that was a learning experience. I’m happy to have won the belt and move on to the next one.
For starters, I was a little cold, I got advice from the corner, Frank Warren and my dad.
I ate a few drinks, but it was just to wake me up. The first shots hurt, but they woke me up.
I’m so proud of myself. It’s all a learning experience. We’re back on top.
It felt like a roller coaster. It felt like a roller coaster.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
