The reason Daniel Dubois was not nominated for SPOTY
The boxing world is abuzz with outrage following the announcement that Daniel Dubois has been excluded from the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) 2024. Despite a spectacular year that showcased his grit and determination in the ring, Dubois was notably absent from the final six nominees revealed on Monday.
Dubois’ omission is particularly shocking considering the challenges he overcame in the past year. Just one year ago, he faced a devastating setback after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in a world title challenge. Many thought the defeat would derail his career, but Dubois refused to fade into obscurity.
In December 2023, Dubois staged an incredible comeback by defeating Jarrell Miller in a dramatic final-round knockout, rekindling his reputation as a serious contender. The victory paved the way for a highly anticipated clash with the undefeated Filip Hrgovic in June 2024, a fight many believed Hrgovic would dominate.
To the surprise of fans and analysts, Dubois weathered the early storm and delivered a shocking eighth-round knockout to claim the IBF interim heavyweight title, later upgraded to the full IBF world heavyweight championship after Usyk vacated the belt.
However, the IBF title was initially met with skepticism by some fans who questioned Dubois’ legitimacy as a true world champion. Determined to silence critics, Dubois agreed to defend his title against none other than Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
In what was arguably the most defining fight of his career, Dubois stunned the boxing world by knocking down Joshua four times en route to a fifth-round stoppage. This emphatic victory solidified his status as a legitimate world champion and elevated him into the elite ranks of the heavyweight division, alongside Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite these monumental achievements, Dubois was inexplicably left off the SPOTY shortlist. Instead, the BBC chose to honor six athletes from other sports, including footballer Jude Bellingham, Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson, darts prodigy Luke Littler, cricketer Joe Root, paracyclist Sarah Storey, and triathlete Alex Yee.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from within the boxing community. Dev Sahni of Queensberry Promotions voiced his frustration on social media, writing, “Where is the respect for Daniel Dubois? The heavyweight world champion who just knocked out Anthony Joshua in front of a record-breaking crowd at Wembley Stadium deserves recognition.”
Fans echoed Sahni’s sentiments, with one commenter lamenting, “Boxing always gets ignored by these BBC vanity awards.” Another fan declared, “His performances were absolutely iconic—he should absolutely be on that list.”
Others pointed out the long-standing bias against boxers in mainstream awards, referencing Tyson Fury’s snub after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. “If Fury couldn’t win after that fight, when will any boxer ever get a fair shot?”
While the SPOTY panel may have overlooked Dubois’ incredible year, his achievements in the ring speak volumes. His victories over Miller, Hrgovic, and Joshua in just 12 months have cemented his place as one of the most exciting heavyweights in the world. Whether or not mainstream awards recognize his efforts, Dubois has earned the respect of boxing fans worldwide—and that, perhaps, is the ultimate accolade.
