DANIEL DUBOIS has confirmed trainer Martin Bowers has been made the scapegoat for his November loss to Joe Joyce.
The 23-year-old heavyweight lost his British title and unbeaten record when The Juggernaut’s brilliant jab cracked a hole in his eye socket and forced him to take a knee and be counted out in the tenth round.
Dubois’ harshest critics accused him of being a quitter who ducked out as soon as the going got tough against the 34-year-old Olympic silver winner.
The young prospect’s supporters argue Peacock Gym boss Bowers should have thrown in the towel to pull him out of the contest, to protect his shattered face and reputation.
The unarguable fall-out is a move into respected Mark Tibbs’ stable – the son of British training legend Jimmy – and a fresh start, with Bowers and brother Tony retaining managerial duties.
Dubois, who hopes to return to the ring in April, said: “I am moving on now with Mark and Jimmy Tibbs as my trainers and I think their experience will really help me, moving forward in my career.
“I want a fresh start and hopefully they can show me things.
“Mark and Jimmy are deep in boxing and have been at world title level with people like Billy Joe Saunders and Dillian Whyte.
“I really need a fresh start and I need to do what is best for me really.
“Martin and Tony did a tremendous job, it was a great few years and I am very grateful, we had a fantastic journey.”
Dubois has not had to have surgery or any of the steel plates Kell Brook had to rebuild his shattered orbital bones after fights against Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.
But he insists the pain he felt shooting through his face was enough to make the 17st powerhouse fold to the canvas and surrender the lead he had on two of the judges’ scorecards.
“You have to feel that pain to understand it,” he said.
“I felt that final shot come and I felt my eye go and took the knee.
“I didn’t even think about the fight then, I took a knee, maybe it was inexperience, maybe I panicked, it just happened at that moment.
“The pain happened and I was discombobulating, I panicked and took a knee.
“But I am not going to let this hold me back, I want to come back and improve.”
Aside from the keyboard warriors online, some of Dubois’ harshest criticism came from his fellow fighters.
Some, like fellow Brit heavyweight Dillian Whyte, he might be able to get revenge on one day inside the ring.
Others, like super-featherweight Carl Frampton, he will just have to defy with his comeback performances.
He said: “When I come back I will see those people and maybe even get in the ring with some of them, to show me how much of a quitter I am.
“I have to set things right, I need to iron out some flaws but I don’t think I am too far off.
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“It has made me want it even more and made me stronger. I won’t let this break me. I will train even harder and be even more disciplined.
“It was a massive set back for me and I have to take on board the positives and negatives.
“Now I want to vent my frustrations out in the gym and get myself back on course. I want to start afresh again, like I have just turned professional again.”
Watch the full Daniel Dubois interview here on the Unibet Lowdown.
