Kieran Farrell, a former Central Area lightweight champion, was forced to cut short his career at 22 in 2013. A decade on, he’s part of Daniel Dubois’ training team and the Mancunian was honest about the IBF world titleholder’s preparations for an evening catapulting him into a new light, toppling Anthony Joshua as the former unified heavyweight king eyes an immediate rematch.
Farrell: Daniel put the work in on Don’s farm
- In historic Wembley bout, Dubois scored four knockdowns – first at end of R1, then another in rounds two, three and five – en route to massive win for 27-year-old, retaining IBF world heavyweight title on September 21
- Let’s go! “I want to put the wrong right,” Dubois says, insistent he wants the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 winner on Dec. 21 for undisputed status in 2025, wants revenge after contentious defeat by Ukrainian
- During brief post-fight press monologue, Joshua thanks fans then vows to return stronger for the experience and will not retire following fourth defeat, his most damaging yet. An 11-year pro, he turns 35 on Oct. 15 and speculation suggests rematch could take place in Riyadh come February
HE’S only been part of the Daniel Dubois business for six months officially, but former rising lightweight contender turned promoter-manager-trainer Kieran Farrell has arrived at precisely the right juncture for a bullish Briton whose confidence is rising all the time after consecutive career-best performances as the underdog.
All the noise surrounding Don Charles’ absence during fight week, later clarified as an illness he didn’t want to spread, meant Farrell was front-and-centre as the lead assistant before a historic Wembley night against Anthony Joshua – which quickly exceeded expectations after scoring a series of knockdowns with relative ease.
Activity is key: Dubois’ last four fights..
Sept. 24: Anthony Joshua, R5 KO for IBF world heavyweight title
June 2024: Filip Hrgovic, R8 TKO for IBF interim world heavyweight championship
Dec. 2023: Jarrell Miller, R10 TKO to inflict American’s first professional defeat
Aug. 2023: Oleksandr Usyk, R9 KO loss for unified world heavyweight titles
Back when the partnership was announced in March, Charles said Farrell’s presence would help ease the workload for a heavyweight contender-turned-world champion.
“I’ve moulded him [Dubois] into the type of fighter stylistically I want him to be and what Kieran does is takes that same format, runs with it and make him faster,” Charles said per BoxingScene’s Tris Dixon at the time and so far, so good.
“We did it relatively easier than we thought we would. But we’ve been there dedicated everyday to this, on Don’s farm for 12 weeks and Daniel put the work in.
You do something every day for that length of time and it can get boring, but Daniel’s enthusiasm for training – he doesn’t show that, it’s great, he enjoys it. They say a happy fighter is dangerous, proof was against Joshua.
- Farrell reflects on Dubois’ R5 KO win over Joshua, the discipline his charge showed in training and how things unfolded (h/t: BoxingScene)
Joshua has insisted he won’t retire in the wake of such a devastating defeat, the fourth of a 12-year pro career, while his natural instinct is to want an immediate rematch so he can correct the litany of mistakes against a much younger champion.
Farrell believes Joshua should swerve the rematch and find an easier touch for a 2025 return, given he’ll turn 35 in a matter of weeks and isn’t the same feared unified world champion he once was. Former long-reigning WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder is similarly coming off a damaging stoppage defeat by Zhilei Zhang and the 33-year-old suggested that’s one of many lucrative options he could take.
“If I was advising Joshua, I wouldn’t be telling him to jump back in with Dubois – a young, hungry, 27-year-old lion. I know what he’s capable of, Joshua does too now. He’s a devastating puncher, like a bigger modern-day version of Mike Tyson. Wilder: a good fight between two massive names who’ve long been linked and both need a big win right now, give them a load of confidence.”
Wilder has increasingly been linked with a matchup against former WBO world cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie for WBC bridgerweight gold, though Kevin Lerena is the Briton’s mandatory. Joshua, who managed the Briton until last year, is still expected to press ahead for a rematch in the first quarter of 2025 – likely in Riyadh.
Picture source: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 