Hall of fame promoter, Frank Warren, is ready for a statement 2023 in the heavyweight division, and believes his three British charges will be front and centre.
Warren has closed out the year in front of 60,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where WBC Champion, Tyson Fury, dominated a brave Derek Chisora over 10 punishing rounds.
WBA Regular Champion and heavyweight prospect, Daniel Dubois, propped up the main event with a third round knockout over former-cruiserweight, Kevin Lerena – a bout which was not without its thrills and controversy.
Earlier in the year, Joe Joyce cemented his status as a serious contender with a career-best victory over tough New Zealander, Joseph Parker, crowning him WBO Interim champ and putting him in place for a shot at the big belts come next year.
The head of Queensberry Promotions highlights all three men in his most recent column.
The main thing is that Tyson got through without any mishaps and now a massive 2023 is in store for the heavyweight division. We now need to tie up the loose ends of the Usyk fight and then, all things being well, Joe Joyce will come into play.
I strongly believe next year will be one where the sport of boxing puts its best foot forward and returns to the forefront, with the biggest and best fights being made.
After an early scare, Daniel Dubois kept himself right in the mix with a successful first defence of his WBA world championship against a good fighter in Kevin Lerena.
Daniel is in the game now and there is no turning back. When he is fit and firing again we will get him back in against top 10 opposition. This is the company he needs to keep to get ready for a shot at the big guns of the division.
Whilst many would like to see Dubois take the next steps cautiously, Fury and Joyce are undoubtedly at the top of the pile.
‘The Gypsy King’ is widely expected to face the division’s other champion, Oleksandr Usyk, next, but has called for a fight with Joyce thereafter.
If those fights can be made – as well as the expected activity of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Andy Ruiz – Warren’s point above is a hard one to argue.