Eddie Hearn has called for the retirement of one of the division’s best heavyweights amidst talk of his return.
Hearn recently spoke on the state of the division, in which Joseph Parker has been called as mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk, and Derek Chisora for Daniel Dubois. At the time of Hearn’s comments in early 2025, the heavyweight landscape was dynamic, with several key matchups shaping the future of the division.
Hearn told The Stomping Ground that despite talk of Chisora’s final fight being for a world title against the British champion, he expressed doubts that the 40-year-old will get another world title opportunity:
“I wasn’t sure he would beat [Otto] Wallin,” Hearn admitted. “He’s hugely experienced and he knows his way around the ring. He knows how to beat fighters.”
Derek Chisora’s Resurgence and Mandatory Status
Despite Hearn’s initial reservations, Derek Chisora (36-14, 23 KOs) has continued to defy expectations in the twilight of his career. The veteran British heavyweight, known for his aggressive “War” style, entered 2025 with a respectable record, having secured a unanimous decision victory over Joe Joyce in July 2024 and Gerald Washington in August 2023.
Chisora then faced Otto Wallin (28-3, 16 KOs) on February 8, 2025, in an IBF eliminator bout. In a surprising turn of events, Chisora delivered a remarkable performance, dropping Wallin twice—once in the ninth round and again in the twelfth—en route to a unanimous decision victory with scores of 117-109, 116-110, and 114-112. This victory officially positioned Chisora as the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title, which was then held by Daniel Dubois. This development set up a potential all-British clash, though its timing remained uncertain given other movements in the division. Chisora’s last fight, however, saw him suffer a split decision loss to Deontay Wilder on April 4, 2026.
“He’s tough for anybody, whether it is Usyk, whether it’s Dubois. I don’t see him fighting for the world heavyweight championship, next anyway, but who knows.” Hearn’s words reflected the unpredictable nature of the heavyweight division, where veteran fighters like Chisora can still create significant waves.
Daniel Dubois’ Ascent to IBF Champion
Hearn also spoke, however, on the heavyweight he believes should ride off into the sunset, a fighter that has been mentioned alongside Dubois a lot lately. Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs), nicknamed “Dynamite,” has experienced a meteoric rise in the heavyweight ranks. His journey included a controversial first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk in August 2023, where Dubois was denied a potential stoppage victory due to a ruling of a low blow, ultimately losing by ninth-round knockout.
However, Dubois quickly rebounded, demonstrating significant momentum. After Usyk vacated his IBF title on June 25, 2024, to pursue a rematch with Tyson Fury, Dubois was elevated to full IBF heavyweight champion on June 26, 2024. This set the stage for a monumental clash against two-time former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London.
In what was widely considered an upset, Dubois delivered a stunning performance, knocking out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round to retain his IBF title. This victory cemented Dubois’s status as a formidable force in the division and significantly boosted his profile, making him a highly sought-after opponent.
Oleksandr Usyk’s Historic Undisputed Reign and Dubois Rematch
Hearn admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Queensberry Promotions looked to stage a bout between Usyk and Dubois in London, following their controversial first encounter in Poland:
“It wouldn’t surprise me [if Usyk vs Dubois happened in Wembley]”
“I mean, that’s the natural fight for Queensberry to try and make.”
Usyk defeated Dubois in August 2023, though the contest was marred by controversy after Dubois was denied a stoppage victory for what was deemed a low blow. With Dubois now carrying significant momentum following his upset win over Anthony Joshua, Hearn believed a rematch with Usyk would be an intriguing contest.
The landscape of the heavyweight division had dramatically shifted with Oleksandr Usyk’s (24-0, 15 KOs) historic achievements. Usyk first became the undisputed heavyweight champion by defeating Tyson Fury via split decision on May 18, 2024, unifying the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. He then successfully defended his undisputed status in a rematch against Fury on December 21, 2024, winning by unanimous decision. However, Usyk had briefly relinquished his undisputed status by vacating the IBF title in June 2024 to proceed with the Fury rematch.
As predicted by Hearn, the highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois for the undisputed heavyweight championship took place on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London. Usyk, defending his WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring magazine titles, faced Dubois, who was defending his IBF belt. In a dominant display, Usyk secured a fifth-round knockout victory over Dubois, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat not achieved since Muhammad Ali. This victory solidified Usyk’s legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of his era, having now defeated Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois twice each.
“I said I think Usyk should retire, not because he’s fading but because he’s [already] done absolutely everything, and how unbelievable [he’s been].”
“But a fight with Dubois is an opportunity for him to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion.”
“He has already beat Dubois but it is a very tough fight, especially with Daniel and the momentum. Dubois is going to be a handful and if that gets made, it will be great.”
Implications for the Heavyweight Division
With Usyk’s decisive victory over Dubois, the heavyweight division once again saw a clear, undisputed champion. However, the sanctioning bodies quickly moved to ensure mandatory challenges were addressed. The WBO officially re-ordered Usyk to make a mandatory defense against interim champion Joseph Parker (36-4, 24 KOs). Parker has been on a strong run, including a knockout win over Martin Bakole in February 2025 and a majority decision victory over Zhilei Zhang in March 2024, following a notable win against Deontay Wilder in December 2023. However, Parker suffered a TKO loss to Fabio Wardley in October 2025 for the WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship.
Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois, despite the loss to Usyk, remains a significant player. After his rematch with Usyk, Dubois returned to the ring on May 9, 2026, defeating Fabio Wardley by TKO in the 11th round for the WBO World Heavyweight championship. This win once again propelled him into title contention. The IBF had previously ordered Dubois to face Derek Chisora by June 21, 2025, but a unification bout with Usyk took precedence.
With the heavyweight division still taking shape following Usyk’s historic wins over Tyson Fury and his second undisputed reign, all eyes are now on what decision the undisputed champion makes next, and how the various mandatory challengers will navigate their paths to a world title shot.
