Daniel Dubois was a Lennox Lewis disciple as a kid - now he could stand alongside him

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Exclusive interview: Daniel Dubois speaks about his video sessions with Lennox Lewis, his dad, Oleksandr Usyk and learning how to play the harp ahead of Wembley clash
Daniel Dubois was sat in front of videos of Lennox Lewis as a child and told he could one day be just like him.
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That could certainly be a reality tonight if the latest British heavyweight star causes a big upset by dethroning Oleksandr Usyk as the king of the division tonight at Wembley Stadium. Dubois, 27, has gone some way to emulating the icon name of the sport from these shores by becoming a world champion in the blue-ribband weight.
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But no Brit has ever been able to say they're the undisputed champion in the division since Lewis had that crown in 1999. The tale of press ups and bible readings for the Dubois children with dad, Stan, as the leader is well told.
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Along with the lung-busting runs which once brought them to the attention of the authorities on more than one occasion who feared they were being forced to train more than being home schooled.
But between all of that were video sessions when Daniel was put in front of the TV and Lewis was one of the subjects on the syllabus of his course work.
'I remember watching the videos,' he said. 'Dad would put them on and tell me to learn. It was Lennox, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, guys from that era. After my dad, Lennox was probably who I looked up to the most. Now I can become undisputed champion like him. It's crazy to think my name could be alongside his in history but this has been the plan. Now it is my turn. One day people will watch videos of me and learn.'
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Dubois has met Lewis on a number of occasions and received advice. 'He said some good things to say about me,' said the Londoner. 'He is, proper, isn't he? Yeah he's proper relaxed, cool guy. There's not too many like him, he's got a swagger.'
Yet it goes far to explain how much influence Dubois' father has over him when asked whose advice he would take more seriously - his dad's or Lewis'? 'My dad,' he said.
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To emulate Lewis, it will take something special tonight. Dubois is 11 years Usyk's junior and he is much improved in mentality and ability since their 2023 clash where, apart from the low blow controversy, it was a one-sided affair which the Ukrainian cruised in before dropping and stopping him in the ninth.
He has the IBF belt which Usyk relinquished and now wants to take the WBO, WBC and WBA ones from him. While accusations of being a 'quitter' shaken off with ballsy performances against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.
Usyk is one of the greats of all time as a two-weight undisputed champion. Yet the hope for those in the Dubois business is that father time has caught up with the Ukrainian. There has been little evidence in his two wins over Tyson Fury in his last two outings of that though.
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The Brit conqueror is looking to make it a double over Dubois as well, with two wins over Joshua, and single victories against Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew.
'But it is time I showed how Britain can conquer the world and Usyk,' said Dubois last week at his gym in Borehamwood. With Fury and Joshua winding down, Dubois is the current one carrying the weight of the nation in the sport's glamour division.
'My time now,' he added. He has already knocked out Joshua of course and received praise for not celebrating while the former champion lay on the canvas. 'That's what the old guys did,' he said. 'Some of the ones I watched in the videos.'
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The video sessions of Lewis and Co have been replaced by music lessons now between training sessions after his dad has driven him home to the house they still share. He's learning to play the harp. 'It's not easy,' he said. 'But I'm getting there slowly with it.'
It has been like that in the ring for Dubois. Slowly tuning himself into a top fighter from a young pro to a mature one across 24 fights.
Tonight could be when he really hits the highest of notes.