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A naive and bewildered Daniel Dubois turned to his father for support when asked to share his dreams and aspirations.<\/b><\/p>\n
The teenager was giving his first interview to Queensberry Promotions after joining Frank Warren’s stable.<\/p>\n
Dubois’ timid demeanour conflicted with his imposing 6ft 4in muscular figure.<\/p>\n
He was the home-schooled introvert who could complete five hours of push-ups a day from the age of five – and there was little time for friendship or socialising.<\/p>\n
So when Dubois hurtled into the limelight of pro boxing aged 19, it was very much a case of boy meets world.<\/p>\n
Seven years later, though, Dubois has transformed from a sheepish, sometimes voiceless, character to a fighter demanding respect.<\/p>\n
“You don’t intimidate me. Who do you think you are?” he barked at Anthony Joshua during a behind-doors face-off.<\/a><\/p>\n On Saturday, in front of a post-war British boxing record crowd of 96,000, Dubois continues his boxing journey in a world-title defence against compatriot Joshua<\/a> at Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n “I always thought he’d be a future champion, but I’ve really seen him change from that shrinking violet who first stepped into my office,” Warren reflects.<\/p>\n BBC Sport speaks to members of the boxing fraternity with first-hand accounts of Dubois’ ascent from a shy prospect to the peak of the heavyweight division.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n