Sparring stories surrounding Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois have been a recurring theme of the build up for their mammoth heavyweight world title fight, which takes place at Wembley Stadium in just over a week’s time.
Joshua and Dubois shared the ring in 2017 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, when the latter was still in his teenage years and was yet to turn over as a professional.
There have been repeated claims that ‘DDD’ floored and even knocked out the two-time world champion, with Queensberry boss Frank Warren echoing the claims upon signing Dubois in 2017.
2016 Olympian Anthony Fowler was in the gym when the incident occurred – and has lifted the lid on what happened.
Fowler explained to talkSPORT that, despite being in “survival mode”, Dubois hit Joshua with a shot that took his legs away.
However, the Liverpudlian claimed ‘AJ’ did not touch the canvas.
“They were just sparring normally. Dubois was really young so he wasn’t really trying to win the rounds.
“I wouldn’t say he was in survival mode but he wouldn’t take many risks.
“He was very cagey sparring Joshua. Obviously, Joshua was the main man on the team so he was always quite wary, but he always punched really hard.
“Joshua must have been a little clumsy sparring him and he got caught with a short left hook and Joshua’s legs completely went.
“Dubois could have hit him again and put him to sleep but Dubois had a bit too much respect for him to finish him off.
“Obviously, everyone was stood there like ‘Wow’ and Joshua went and jogged around the ring because his legs were like jelly and he was trying to get his legs back.
Two Brits fighting for the World Heavyweight Title at Wembley Stadium…Who wants it more?
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“He didn’t knock him out, he didn’t hit the floor but he was really, really hurt.
“Dubois probably could have hit him again and knocked him out but he chose not to out of respect.”
The time for hearsay and sparring stories will soon be over, with Joshua and Dubois set to lock horns in front of a record breaking 96,000 people next weekend.
