Daniel Dubois is awaiting a new opponent after Anthony Joshua, who was considered a candidate for a rematch, decided not to pursue the fight.
The match was tentatively scheduled for February 22 and could have taken place during the Riyadh Season, an event organized by Queensberry Promotions.
Anticipation is building as to who Dubois, now 27, will face as his camp will want an experienced and seasoned challenger to test his recent progress in the heavyweight division.
The leading candidate to face Dubois in this anticipated showdown is former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker.
Currently, Parker is not ranked by the IBF, as he holds an interim title with the WBO.
However, he has expressed interest in challenging Dubois after the possibility of Joshua seeking revenge for his September defeat faded away.
According to BoxingScene, sources close to the negotiations consider Parker an ideal candidate for the fight as the man to replace Anthony Joshua as the opponent for Daniel Dubois.
Promoters aim to match 27-year-old Dubois with the strongest possible opponent and Parker’s WBO ranking is not seen as an obstacle for the IBF to include him in their listing.
With a record of 35 wins, 3 losses, and 23 knockouts, Parker has shown a significant career resurgence, securing victories over fighters like Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in the past year.
Both The Ring and TBRB (Transnational Boxing Rankings Board) currently rank him just one spot below Dubois, who holds a record of 22 wins, 2 losses, with 21 knockouts.
“Dubois looked great versus Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua,” Parker stated to TalkSPORT.
“But there’s a difference. I’m fresh, I’m hungry, and ready to go. I’ve been waiting since March for a big fight, let’s get it on now.”
Other opponents, like Zhilei Zhang and Fabio Wardley, were considered, but Zhang awaits a final eliminator in the IBF, and Wardley was ruled out by Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions’ promoter, considering him a future option still lacking sufficient experience.
Anthony Joshua decided not to face Dubois in February, viewing the date as too soon for another fight.
If confirmed, the fight between Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois would be one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, with both fighters in excellent form and the promise of a thrilling showdown.
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