Anthony Joshua has hit back at claims ‘his legs turned to jelly’ when sparring Daniel Dubois in 2016, suggesting the fighter who shared that story has been labelled ‘a snake’.
Joshua challenges for Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, seeking to become a three-time world champion.
Eight years ago, the two met in a sparring session with that story taking centre stage in the build-up to fight night.
While sparring tales are usually kept behind closed doors, it has long been rumoured that an 18-year-old Dubois knocked out Joshua that day, something strongly refuted by the former world champion.
Anthony Fowler, a former member of Team GB Boxing, was present in the gym that day and last week claimed Joshua was ‘really hurt’ after he was caught with a left hook that made his ‘legs turn to jelly’.
In the interview with talkSPORT, the former middleweight also suggested Dubois could have hit Joshua again and knocked him out ‘but chose not to out of respect’.
Joshua however was having none of it, revealing a coach rang him after hearing the interview unhappy with Fowler’s version of events.
The Olympian also joked Fowler’s comments were part of a plan to sell more of his CBD products.
‘I’ve sparred so many people in my life I can hardly remember them,’ Joshua told IFL TV. ‘But with Dubois, he hit me with a good shot, I think it was a left hook.
‘One of the coaches called me and was like, “He’s [Fowler] a snake, that was never like that.”
‘He’s trying to promote CBD, innit? I don’t know, why didn’t he [Dubois] throw another punch?
‘For me it is [irrelevant]. But we will see after the 12th round [on Saturday].’
Fowler meanwhile has responded to Joshua’s latest comments on social media. ‘Had a lot of DMs today which made me laugh, I have got no reason to lie, I’ve retired,’ he wrote.
‘May the best man win, I still think AJ but wouldn’t surprise me at all if Daniel’s wins, he’s younger and fresher and bangs HARD.
‘The CBD shout got me. But he knows I’m only telling the truth, it means nothing now anyway.’