Is Joshua’s Trainer to Blame for the Loss to Dubois? Hearn Responds

Matchroom Boxing head and promoter of former heavyweight (over 90.7 kg) world champion Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), Eddie Hearn, addressed the question of whether trainer Ben Davison was responsible for the Brit’s defeat to IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs).

“Davison received a lot of praise for the last few performances. AJ was doing things that Ben didn’t ask him to do: backing straight up with his chin raised, having improper hand positioning, and other similar mistakes.

Anthony started to recover, but his energy levels were almost depleted, and that wouldn’t have changed. You don’t want to find yourself in the ninth or tenth round already exhausted. Joshua had a chance when he shook Dubois in the fifth round. He regained control of his legs, rocked him in the fourth round, took a risk. I think that’s praiseworthy.

I believe that Ben Davison and Lee Wylie did a great job, it’s just that this time Anthony couldn’t perform at his best. I think, as a team, they will regroup and come back stronger,” said Hearn.

To recap, on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London, UK, Daniel Dubois won by stoppage over Anthony Joshua—scoring knockdowns in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds. After the final knockdown, Joshua couldn’t get up before the count ended. KO 5.