A scuffle broke out three months before the world title super-fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
The two legendary Londoners will clash at a gleaming Wembley Stadium on September 21 – in front of the biggest crowd in the ground’s history – for big money.
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But they had already begun a rivalry in the dark, dingy environs of the small neighborhood arena before the 34-year-old A.J.
And the two-time champion warned this wonder boy, eight years his junior, that he was a dangerous street fighter – surviving clashes on the streets and with the law – long before he became a renowned boxer and honoured OBE
“Yeah, we had a bit of anger. It’s good,” the London 2012 veteran said with a smile.
“There are two sides to it, the competitive side, the Queensberry rules of boxing. But there is also an instinct as a fighter.
“And that’s the way it is. I was a good fighter before I boxed, when someone calls you out it’s your instinct.
“He said ‘let’s go now’. And I said: ‘let’s go then’. No protection, I just walked away, I thought I’d be the bigger man.”
Dubois attributed the stressful situation to severe jet lag after a 12-hour flight from Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
The 26-year-old Adonis had to cut short his holiday training and recovery in the South American paradise to return to London so he could announce his fight.
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Full Wembley fight card of Joshua vs Dubois
- Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois
- Anthony Cacace vs. Josh Warrington
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Willie Hutchinson
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Tyler Denny
- Josh Kelly vs. Liam Smith
- Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padley
And it helped lead to a sparring moment with the superstar who, nine years ago, had not yet become a British sporting legend, was flown to Sheffield to help with sparring sessions.
“I was suffering from jet-lag, that’s all,” the powerhouse said.
“My head wasn’t in the right place, but it was all good and it was all part of the fun and getting into the rhythm.”
Hall-of-Fame promoter Frank Warren – who missed out on AJ’s professional signing after his coronation in 2012 – is the mastermind behind Dubois’ career.
And he watched the first round of play and believes his opponent already has the edge and the contest has all the elements for a close contest.
“It was just about to explode,” he said a few days before the gold-dust stamps went on sale.
“But you’ll have to wait until the film is released to see it. It was quite lively. We had a face-off around a table and it got a bit spicy.”
And Warren’s promotional opponent Eddie Hearn revealed tensions were so high the pair had to be split up.
