A world heavyweight unification showdown with Oleksandr Usyk is at stake for the winner of Saturday’s blockbuster title combat between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, says Frank Warren.
Dubois will defend his IBF belt for the primary time since producing a surprising knockout victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium final yr, whereas Parker is in search of to change into a two-time heavyweight world champion amid the very best run of his profession.
Usyk, who beat Tyson Fury for a second time in December’s rematch, not too long ago instructed he has two extra fights left in his profession.
The Ukrainian has already beforehand fought Dubois having overcome a low blow scare to knock out the 27-year-old in August 2023.
“Daniel is 27, Joe is 33, which is not outdated for a heavyweight by the best way. One is the younger buck and flying in the intervening time, and for any person it is his final probability,” Queensbury Promotions’ Warren advised Sky Sports activities Boxing.
“Usyk is the No 1 heavyweight I the world with three belts, Tyson [Fury] is retired, so No 1 and No 2 are combating one another. It is the following two finest heavyweights on the earth within the ring collectively combating for an opportunity to unify the belts towards Usyk.
“The winner, he is bought the whole lot. The loser goes to be very very disenchanted. It’ll be a tremendous combat.”
Dubois has received every of his final three fights since his defeat to Usyk, recording tenth and eighth-round stoppages towards Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic respectively, earlier than his emphatic end towards Joshua in spherical 5 final September.
Parker suffered a serious blow to his profession when he was knocked out by Joe Joyce in September 2022, however has since hit again with 5 successive victories together with assertion wins over Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.
“I have a look at the 2 fights, the one he [Dubois] had towards Child Miller, he received within the final spherical and confirmed he had an excellent engine in that combat and confirmed he is harmful going into the latter rounds,” stated Warren. “Within the combat towards Hrgovic he was behind and grew into it and the combat with AJ we noticed what occurred.
“He is within the type of his life. For Joe [Parker], he seems to be in large form mentally and bodily. He is an excellent Joe Parker, former world champion with the expertise, has sparred with the very best, he is bought all that going for him.
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Andy Scott and Andy Clarke focus on who could possibly be the ultimate two opponents for unified heavyweight world champion Usyk
“What he hasn’t go going for him is he is getting in with any person on an actual roll in the intervening time and who’s brimming with confidence.
“The one method I feel you have got an opportunity with this Daniel Dubois is to harm him, take the combat to him and out-fight him. Daniel has a fantastic jab and is beginning to get good head motion. If Parker does that, and Daniel solely actually fights a technique, you’re going to get the most important tear up, you may get a combat, I feel that is what’s going to occur.”
Dubois has grown considerably in each skill and self-belief to say himself among the many main heavyweights on the earth over the past yr, stunning Joshua to change into champion within the course of.
As a lot was evidenced within the aftermath of Usyk’s rematch towards Fury when he took it upon himself to interrupt the previous’s post-fight interview to demand a second combat. Win this weekend, and he might effectively get it.
Sky Sports activities Boxing’s Johnny Nelson, although, is uncertain that the conclusion could be any completely different.
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Johnny Nelson believes Dubois’ punching energy will show an excessive amount of for Parker
“Will that combat occur? Can it? Usyk is saying he has two fights left in his profession, it is on the desk, however Usyk will do what’s finest for him,” stated Nelson.
“However it’s important to bear in mind this, whoever Usyk has boxed twice, the second time has been simpler as a result of as soon as he is downloaded the blueprint of that fighter he is bought their quantity: Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury.
“It will likely be the identical with Daniel Dubois, it would not matter how a lot the child has grown. Usyk has proven, he is like a human laptop, he is bought his quantity.”
Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker and the Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol rematch will likely be stay on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. Guide now!
