The debate over who hits harder out of Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois rages on.
Ever since it was announced that the heavyweight titans would be squaring off this September, boxing forums have been packed to the brim with theories about which of the Brits carries more concussive power.
Heavyweight contender Frazer Clarke, a former sparring partner of both men, joined talkSPORT’s talkBOXING podcast this week and weighed in on the discussion.
Clarke sparred Joshua for several years during his time with Team GB Boxing in Sheffield when both men were under the tutelage of Robert McCracken.
Meanwhile, he has also duked it out with Dubois, who spent a brief stint with the podium squad before turning over as a professional.
Asked if Dubois hits harder, Clarke said: “On a single shot possibly but I’d say Anthony puts them together better with his boxing style.”
The debate will be settled once and for all when Joshua and Dubois exchange leather on September 21 at Wembley Stadium.
Both men are set to square off for the IBF heavyweight title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the red and gold strap in order to pursue a second fight with Tyson Fury on December 21.
As a result, Dubois was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full world champion and will make his first defence of the belt against AJ
Several members of the boxing fraternity insisted Joshua had lost the fire in his belly after getting knocked out by Andy Ruiz in 2019, and then suffering consecutive losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
The Watford powerhouse looked hesitant to pull the trigger in his first two comeback fights against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius last year.
But devastating stoppage victories over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou in his most recent outings has led many to believe the Brit still has his ruthless streak intact, although Simon Jordan insists that Dubois’ power could give Joshua ‘PTSD’.
I think it’s a fascinating fight,” said the talkSPORT pundit last month.
“I don’t go with the camp that suggests that Anthony Joshua is fully rehabilitated, because ultimately he’s fought fighters that haven’t really hit him back at this moment in time.
Jermaine Franklin had a little go, but ultimately [Robert] Helenius got knocked out without landing a glove on him.
“Wallin was nowhere near him, and with Ngannou Joshua did what should have been done to him by Tyson Fury.
“So I think that if Daniel detonates on him he’ll get PTSD because he’ll take him back to a space where the question is that Anthony Joshua hasn’t wanted to go – deep in the trenches.
“There’s a distinct possibility that Daniel Dubois is going to drag him in there, and if he does, it’s going to be a fascinating fight, because he’s got the power.
“We were writing about this kid three or four years ago, before the Joe Joyce fight, as ‘forget Joshua and forget Tyson Fury, this kid, dynamite, Daniel Dubois is the one to watch’.
Jermaine Franklin had a little go, but ultimately [Robert] Helenius got knocked out without landing a glove on him.
“Wallin was nowhere near him, and with Ngannou Joshua did what should have been done to him by Tyson Fury.
“So I think that if Daniel detonates on him he’ll get PTSD because he’ll take him back to a space where the question is that Anthony Joshua hasn’t wanted to go – deep in the trenches.
“There’s a distinct possibility that Daniel Dubois is going to drag him in there, and if he does, it’s going to be a fascinating fight, because he’s got the power.
“We were writing about this kid three or four years ago, before the Joe Joyce fight, as ‘forget Joshua and forget Tyson Fury, this kid, dynamite, Daniel Dubois is the one to watch’.
