Daniel Dubois begged boxing promoter Eddie Hearn to ‘cool down’ after a heated discussion ahead of the British star’s fight with Anthony Joshua.
The British pair are scheduled to fight for the IBF heavyweight title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, following an announcement in June.
Prior to the fight, Dubois, Joshua, Hearn, and Frank Warren had a heated discussion after the Matchroom boxing CEO questioned Dubois’ victory over Filip Hrgovic in June.
Eddie Hearn (right) engaged in a heated dispute ahead of Anthony Joshua’s (left) match.
During a DAZN interview, Hearn stated that while Hrgovic was leaving, he also stole his kitchen sink.
‘And you stole the kitchen sink from him, which was rather spectacular. And I admire you much for it.
Daniel Dubois (right) told Hearn to ‘calm down’ as they discussed their upcoming title fight
‘But you don’t have to take the kitchen sink from him, you just have to take a cocktail stick.’
Dubois took exception to Hearn’s critique, chiming in: ‘All right, I’m not fighting you, Eddie.’
Hearn quickly replied: ‘Well thank God for that’. Dubois then said: ‘Calm down.’
Tensions then rose again when Dubois told Joshua that he was more than ready to ‘go now’ if he ‘wants to swing’.
‘Shut up, relax,’ Joshua responded. ‘I’ll throw this f***ing chair across your face. Don’t disrespect me.’
Dubois attempted to remain calm, saying: ‘You can’t intimidate me, who do you think you are?’
That comment got Joshua out of his seat with the pair having to be separated by security as Warren and Hearn watched on.
‘Daniel don’t disrespect me or I’ll put this f***ing chair through your face,’ Joshua continued.
Dubois and Joshua eventually had to be separated after the latter threatened to throw a chair
Joshua twice threatened to hurl a chair at his opponent as the interview quickly turned sour
‘Warn this little boy not to disrespect me. I don’t take disrespect lightly you know. Don’t sit on the table telling me we can go now, telling me this and that.
Promoter Warren said: ‘This was serious. We don’t need any stunts to sell this fight.’
‘Wembley Stadium will be sold out in no time. Who won’t want to see two British giants with massive punching power go at each other. It’s what heavyweight boxing is all about.
‘Daniel is really up for this fight already. And the big pressure is on Joshua at this later stage of his career.’
It was revealed by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh last month that the all-British title bout had sold out Wembley Stadium.
It was disclosed back in June. Joshua and Dubois will fight off for the IBF title on September 21.
Dubois cut short his Brazilian vacation on Rio’s bikini-clad Copacabana Beach to return home for this fight.
He discovered that the IBF had upgraded him from interim to full world champion when he turned on his phone upon landing.
‘I saw the news on social media,’ he explained. ‘I’d have wanted to win the title in the ring. But I’ll take care of it by defeating AJ.