Promoter Frank Warren is targeting a fight between his young heavyweight hope Daniel Dubois and WBA Regular champion Trevor Bryan.
Former British and Commonwealth champion Dubois, 23, will return to the heavyweight fray when he meets Bogdan Dinu for the WBA Interim belt at the Telford International Centre on Saturday night.
It will be the Greenwich man’s first fight since losing to fellow Londoner Joe Joyce last November, when the previously undefeated Dubois took a knee and sat out the count after suffering a broken orbital socket in his left eye. Following his recuperation from injury, Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) has been boosted by a new partnership with highly-rated trainer Shane McGuigan and is ready for another run at the heavyweight elite. Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) is widely regarded as a fringe contender.
Victory against Romanian Dinu will apparently elevate Dubois to mandatory status for American Bryan’s WBA Regular belt, according to Warren. The Don King promoted fighter earned that title by halting Bermane Stiverne in 11 rounds in January. WBA Super champion Anthony Joshua is, of course, regarded as the organisation’s true title holder at the weight.
“I know the championship roadmap can get a bit convoluted in this sport of ours, but the direction of travel for the winner on Saturday is clear. He will be in mandatory position for a shot at the WBA world title, with the champion currently being the American Trevor Bryan,” said Warren on his official website. “Anthony Joshua, by virtue of holding unified status, is classified as Super Champion.
“Considering the present heavyweight landscape involving Tyson Fury (who will face Deontay Wilder) and Joshua (who is expected to fulfil a mandatory obligation to Oleksandr Usyk), the belts are likely to be tied up for some time if the two winners determine to move forward towards an undisputed two-parter. This cranks up the pressure on Daniel to keep himself front and centre in the heavyweight picture, which victory over Dinu would ensure.
“He will find himself right back in the game and actually in a stronger position than before his setback against Joe. So what we need now is for Dynamite Dan’s night to go off with a bang.”
Main image: Queensberry Promotions.