Latest news with #BenDavison
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Anthony Joshua coach finally explains controversial ‘roll the dice' order in Daniel Dubois loss
Anthony Joshua 's coach Ben Davison has finally explained the controversial order to 'roll the dice' in September's defeat by Daniel Dubois. In a packed-out Wembley Stadium, Dubois dropped his fellow Briton four times and sealed a fifth-round stoppage, retaining the IBF heavyweight title in the process. Joshua, 35, has not fought since. While the former champion recovers from elbow surgery and considers shoulder treatment, 27-year-old Dubois is preparing to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. That bout will take place on 19 July at Wembley, where Dubois dealt Joshua a brutal KO in the fifth round, after 'AJ''s corner gave a surprising order after the fourth frame. With Joshua having been dropped once in each of the first, third and fourth rounds, many observers felt that the Olympic gold medalist needed to use the fifth round to recover. If successful, Joshua could perhaps have sought a finish later in the fight. Instead, Davison and his fellow cornerman encouraged Joshua to 'roll the dice'. Many fans and pundits interpreted that messaging as Davison and co urging Joshua to take an unnecessary risk. However, Davison has suggested that it was a specific reference to a combination: a double-jab and right uppercut. Responding to an observation made by Dubois's ex-coach Shane McGuigan on commentary, Davison told Talksport: 'It didn't [play out as McGuigan predicted], though. He's saying that Daniel's putting a right hand behind the double. So, he's saying Daniel Dubois throws a double-jab then a right hand. 'He would be 100 per cent correct; Daniel was throwing that throughout the fight. We've asked AJ to throw a double-jab and bring it up the middle. Daniel was defending AJ's right hand by ducking underneath it; therefore, if he's ducking underneath your right hand, the correct adjustment is to let him dip onto the right uppercut. ''Roll the dice' is like... that was something that he'd worked on throughout camp: double-jab, bring it up the middle. Because against [Filip] Hrgovic, again, he was so often – sorry, let me finish... He was regularly getting underneath Hrgovic's right hand. 'Hrgovic then started to throw an uppercut but wasn't bringing his feet in to be close enough to deliver the shot.' Moments before Dubois landed the knockout blow, Joshua appeared to stun the younger boxer, before seemingly over-committing to an attempt to finish the fight. In the ensuing moment, Dubois dropped Joshua for the final time, rendering AJ unable to beat the referee's count. Dubois was scheduled to defend the IBF belt against Joseph Parker in February but withdrew on two days' notice, citing illness. Parker went on to knock out Martin Bakole in two rounds. While Parker's next move is unclear, as is Joshua's, Dubois now bids for revenge against Usyk, who recovered from a controversial low blow to stop him in 2023. Dubois's team appealed the result, saying his low blow was in fact a legal body shot, but the appeal failed. Joshua has been linked with numerous potential opponents since losing to Dubois. A long-awaited fight against Tyson Fury has been mooted, although the latter claimed in January that he has retired from boxing – not for the first time. Meanwhile, a rematch with old rival Dillian Whyte was recently mentioned, only for Whyte to sign to face Moses Itauma.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Who is Moses Itauma? Fight record, stats, next bout and more
Moses Itauma will return to the ring this weekend, taking on Mike Balogun at the OVO Hydro Arena on the Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman undercard. This will be the Brit's first fight in 2025 as he continues his rise through the heavyweight ranks. Itauma has become one of the most exciting prospects in boxing and is a name to be remembered - so here is everything you need to know about Britain's next heavyweight hope. Who is Moses Itauma? Moses Itauma, born in Slovakia in 2004, moved to the UK with his family when he was four and started boxing at the age of nine. His short-but-successful amateur career included winning three national titles, three European titles and one world championship. But the heavyweight had Mike Tyson's record as the youngest ever heavyweight champion in his sights - signing with Queensberry Promotions just after his eighteenth birthday. What is Moses Itauma's record? After the success of his amateur career, Itauma hit the ground running, winning his debut fight via knockout in 23 seconds at Wembley Arena in 2023. He fought a further six times that year, finishing with a record of 7-0 (5 KO's). Itauma fought again early in 2024, knocking out Dan Garber in one round before making the choice to change his trainer from Alan Smith to Ben Davison, the former coach behind Tyson Fury. Still just nineteen, the young prospect fought for the WBO intercontinental title, knocking out Ilja Mezencev in the second round in Saudi Arabia to mark the beginning of his partnership with Davison. Back on home soil in July of 2024, Itauma took on his toughest test in heavyweight gatekeeper, Mariusz Wach, who has shared the ring with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte and Martin Bakole. He dispatched Wach in the second round to retain his WBO intercontinental title. Another knockout victory followed five months later, this time by stopping Dempsey McKean in the first round. Itauma ended the year with 11 wins, 0 losses and 9 knockouts. Aside from two early points decisions, none of the Brit's opponents have survived to see the second round. He is ranked in the top ten with three out of the big four organisations – number two with the WBO, number three with the WBA and number seven with the IBF. Total fights: 11 Wins: 11 Losses: 0 Knockouts: 9 Rounds: 23 When is Moses Itauma's next fight? Itauma will enter the squared circle this weekend to fight Mike Balogun at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow on the Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman undercard. Balogun, 21-1 (16), has some noticeable names on his record. He lost by knockout in ten rounds to former cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev in Armenia. He also stopped Trey Lippe, the son of former champion Tommy Morrison, in one round in New york in 2021. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Show me the money' – Anthony Cacace celebrates with a cigar in the ring after landing huge pay day with Leigh Wood win
ANTHONY CACACE celebrated in style as he snatched his latest world-champion scalp with a ninth-round stoppage of Leigh Wood. The pair of 36-year-olds clashed at super-featherweight at Woods' local Nottingham arena. 4 4 4 But the Belfast beast - who beat Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington in his previous two outings - overpowered his fellow veteran just before the championship rounds. He marked the money-spinning win by posing in the ring with his team, Frank Warren and some big cigars. Forest fan Wood had got his jab firing off quickly, tagging Cacace to head and body. But the Northern Ireland ace was clever and spiteful, slashing right hands in, when Wood dared get too close. Cacace settled into the second and started to land his left hooks. But, right on the bell, Wood rolled under an attack and seemed to crack his rival with a perfect left hook. Wood's double jabs in the third were crisp and caused switch-hitter Cacace to turn southpaw for the first time. It was a nip-and-tuck affair until Cacace took over and in round nine he put one foot on Wood's neck and the other on the accelerator. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 A left hook robbed Wood of his balance and his soul. And trainer Ben Davison expertly threw in his white towel, to save his man, and spark wild celebrations back in Andytown. The former world champ, who relinquished his title to face Wood, said: "I took this fight purely for money. "It was for double what the world title defence of my old belt would have been. "I am 36 now, so 'Show me the Money!'
