Daniel Dubois shocked the boxing world when he pulled off a stunning upset victory over Anthony Joshua, cementing himself as a major player in the heavyweight division.
The win was meant to set up a fight with Joseph Parker, with the two heavyweights originally scheduled to face off in Saudi Arabia. However, Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness, leaving Parker to face Martin Bakole, who arrived weighing in at 315lbs in the early hours of fight day.
Parker, coming off impressive victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, had been expecting to face Dubois in what would have been his chance at a second world title.
With Dubois recovering and looking ahead, it now appears Parker has been left out of the picture entirely.
Frank Warren Reveals What’s Next for Daniel Dubois
Speaking on the future of Dubois, promoter Frank Warren made it clear that the next opponent won’t be Parker. Instead, he has set his sights on much bigger names.
“I think it’ll be Usyk in an all-belt affair for the four belts or maybe AJ,” Warren told BBC 5 Live.
This has left a bad taste in the mouths of fans, who believe Parker has now done more than enough to deserve a shot at the title. Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, has said if they have to step aside for Dubois Usyk 2, they will.
Unfinished Business with Usyk
A rematch with Usyk holds particular intrigue for fans, given their controversial first fight.
Dubois was stopped in the ninth round of their August 2023 clash but not before he landed a body shot that was ruled a low blow, sparking debate over whether it should have been a legal punch.
The shot floored Usyk, and Dubois has since maintained that he should have been crowned world champion that night.
With Usyk now one belt shy from being the undisputed king of the division once again, a rematch would allow him to settle the score.
If it’s not Usyk, a second fight with Joshua could be on the cards—though AJ will no doubt be looking for revenge. Either way, it seems Dubois is headed for another blockbuster showdown, leaving Parker out of the equation for now.
