The former WBC cruiserweight champion credited Usyk with landing a heavy shot on Dubois, but believes his fellow Brit was in no hurry to return to his feet. 

Bellew told talkSPORT: “What you saw in Daniel on Saturday was a fighter who takes a really heavy shot but doesn’t want to get up.”

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Leigh Dawney/Queensberry

There have been questions about Dubois’ mental strength since he suffered his first defeat against Joe Joyce in 2020 – when he took a knee after suffering an eye injury, which many interpreted as him giving up. 

Dubois’s father is heavily involved in his son’s career and has immense influence over him. Bellew criticised the confusion in Dubois' corner on fight night, with his attention split between his father and his head coach, Don Charles. 

Bellew continued: “You don’t want a boxing trainer to listen to your dad, it doesn’t make sense, you don’t employ a man to train you for 12-14 weeks – get you in the best shape of your life to then get in the corner on fight night and look at your dad.”

The fact that his father is so involved brought into question Dubois’ motivation for fighting and Bellew believes Dubois isn’t fighting for himself, adding that this could be the reason why he struggles when faced with adversity in the ring.

Bellew asked the question: “Who are you boxing for? Why are you doing this? Is it to impress someone?

"When he gets into these really hard moments in fights, that’s when the real Daniel comes out. And the real Daniel doesn’t want to fight.” 

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