Did Dubois Knock Out Joshua in Sparring? AJ Responds

Recently, British boxer Anthony Fowler revealed that IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) nearly knocked out Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) during a sparring session.

"Joshua was probably a bit clumsy during that sparring, and Dubois caught him with a short left hook, which completely shut off Joshua’s legs. Dubois could have hit him again and put him to sleep, but Daniel respected him too much to finish him off.

Everyone was shocked, and Joshua started running around the ring because his legs were like jelly, and he was trying to regain control of them. People were shouting, ‘Wait, wait, wait.’ Joshua wanted to continue, but his former coach Rob McCracken told him, ‘Take a little break, get your legs back in order, and then continue sparring.’

Joshua won most of the sparring sessions, but Dubois almost knocked him out in 18-ounce gloves and headgear. If he catches him in 10-ounce gloves, Joshua will be knocked out," Fowler told talkSPORT.

Joshua also commented on the sparring session with Dubois, insisting that nothing special happened.

"Daniel just landed a good punch on me. I stayed on my feet. I don’t know where all this talk of someone 'turning my lights out' came from.

There were a lot of people in the gym that day, they left and said, ‘Nothing special.’ Whatever the case, people will talk. But when it’s about me, they always blow things out of proportion. But it’s all good, it’s all good," Joshua said.

The fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is scheduled for September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London, UK.