Carl Froch has not held back when assessing Daniel Dubois’ loss to Oleksandr Usyk last Saturday.
The Ukrainian delivered a brilliant fifth-round knockout of Dubois to claim a third career undisputed title and cement his legacy as a modern great.
It was predicted by boxers, including former world champion Barry Jones, that the rematch would have the same finish, but no one could have predicted the early KO.
Dubois, when knocked down to the canvas a second time by Usyk, did not rise to his feet, leading to past questions of quitting.
Carl Froch makes harsh assessment of Daniel Dubois’ knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk
While analysing the fight, Froch picked up on the point of whether he’d quit after being floored by the left hook.
On his Froch on Fighting channel, he explained what he saw after the bell rang.
“You’ve got to be able to put your life on the line, and show people that you want it that much that you are prepared to go out swinging,” he said.
“You can’t just sit on the canvas, he was leaning on his elbow, looking around… There’s a moment where Usyk has got his hands in the air and he’s about to drop to his knees because he’s won and he’s celebrating.
“Daniel Dubois is just casually strutting past him, looking at him.”
But his frank comments did not end there, as he claimed the British fighter does not have the world champion’s mindset.
Froch said: “For Daniel Dubois to just stay down to 9 and walk back to his corner casually is good enough.
“I don’t think that kind of attitude and that kind of mindset in professional boxing will allow you to reign as a champion.
“I don’t want to beat him up, I don’t want to be out of order with him, but my honest opinion is that Daniel Dubois decided not to climb off of the canvas, so that is a quit.”
Froch had predicted pre-fight that Usyk would be ‘too smart’ for Dubois and this showed on the night.
Daniel Dubois should target top 10 ranked heavyweight for a return fight
A rest is needed for the former IBF champion following a painful knockout, but when he returns, it has to be with the aim of getting back to world title status.
At 27, he has more than enough miles on the clock which is why he should be targeting Efe Ajagba for a return.
| Daniel Dubois | Efe Ajagba |
| 22-3 (21 KOs) | 20-1-1 (14 KOs) |
| Age: 27 | Age: 31 |
| Height: 6ft 5 | Height: 6ft 6 |
| Reach: 78 inch | Reach: 85 inch |
| Best win: Anthony Joshua KO 5 | Best win: Guido Vianello SD 10 |
Ajagba is older than ‘Dynamite’ by four years and has not been knocked out in 22 fights, which makes him the perfect comeback opponent.
He provides formidable opposition, seemingly fewer skills than ‘DDD’, and a good story for him to jump on if he is the first man to stop him.
A win here would propel him back into contention and get him back in a high spot with the IBF rankings.