Anthony Joshua’s coach responds to criticism for telling him to “try his luck” against Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua’s crushing defeat to Daniel Dubois in September sparked waves of criticism aimed at his coach, Ben Davison, who famously told Joshua to “roll the dice” during the fifth round of the fight. While the strategy briefly brought momentum to Joshua, it ultimately set him up for a devastating right-hand counterpunch that left him slumped against the ropes.

Davison, addressing the backlash on talkSPORT White & Jordan, did not shy away from taking responsibility but stood firm in defending his decision. He explained:
“We knew Joshua needed a chance to get back into the fight, and to do that, we had to take a risk. That moment where he hurt Dubois was the most successful part of the fight for him. But unfortunately, we couldn’t weather the storm.”

When Strategy Becomes a Double-Edged Sword

By the fifth round, Joshua had already been knocked down four times, leaving his chances of victory hanging by a thread. Recognizing the situation, Davison urged him to abandon a defensive approach and go all-in. The aggressive shift brought immediate results, as Joshua unleashed a series of heavy punches that visibly rattled Dubois. The crowd erupted in cheers as the former champion showed glimpses of his old form.

However, this high-risk, high-reward approach came at a price. Dubois capitalized on Joshua’s overzealousness, countering with a brutal right hand that sent Joshua crashing into the ropes. The fight ended shortly after, marking one of the most painful losses in Joshua’s career.

Davison Faces Criticism Head-On

Despite the harsh backlash, Davison refused to dodge responsibility. Instead, he emphasized that the failure wasn’t due to poor coaching but rather a necessary gamble that didn’t pay off.
“I’m not afraid of the criticism around ‘rolling the dice.’ It was clear we needed to do something to turn the tide. He [Joshua] gave it everything, but Daniel asked tough questions, and we couldn’t find the answers in time,” Davison stated.

He also dismissed claims that Joshua’s demeanor entering the fight indicated deeper issues.
“It’s hard to judge based on his body language, and I can’t comment on how he looked walking to the ring. What matters is that we don’t make excuses. There were things we could’ve done better, and we’ll address them as a team,” he added.

Joshua’s Future and the Davison Partnership

While the loss to Dubois was a significant setback, Davison believes his partnership with Joshua still has potential. Prior to the fight, Joshua secured dominant wins over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou, suggesting the former champion was on the right track.

Looking ahead, Joshua is targeting a rematch with Dubois, though it has been postponed to spring or summer 2025. In the meantime, speculation grows over a possible blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury, pending Fury’s upcoming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Davison remains optimistic about Joshua’s comeback, noting that setbacks like this can often pave the way for greater growth.
“Sometimes, even when you do everything right, things don’t go your way. It’s crucial that we take ownership of what went wrong and work on improving. That’s what champions do,” he concluded.