There is a statue of a dead boxer outside the Peacock Gym in Canning Town. In this gritty little corner of east London the gold inscription on black marble reads: “In loving memory of Bradley Stone – A brave young man who died in the pursuit of his dreams.” Stone was only 23 when he lost his life, and a British title fight against Richie Wenton, in April 1994. He was a super-bantamweight from Canning Town who trained at this very gym.
Twenty-five years later the new Peacock prodigy is a young heavyweight who cuts a much more formidable figure. Daniel Dubois walks past this reminder of boxing’s dangers every day. Born three‑and‑a‑half years after Stone died, and dreaming of becoming a world heavyweight champion, Dubois is entitled to ignore these haunting echoes of the past.
Written by Donald McRae
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/04/daniel-dubois-boxing-anthony-joshua-donald-mcrae-interview under the title “Daniel Dubois: ‘Boxing is my calling and so I have no fear of getting hurt’ | Donald McRae”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
