Oleksandr Usyk is undoubtedly the boxer of the moment, having secured two victories against Tyson Fury in 2024 and earned the status of Best Boxer Pound for Pound. However, another name has been gaining traction in the industry: Daniel Dubois. With a record of 22-2 and 21 knockouts, the British fighter always puts on a show, and his upcoming match against Joseph Parker this Saturday, February 22, with the IBF heavyweight title on the line, promises to be no exception.
This will be Dubois’ first title defense since he surprised the world by defeating Anthony Joshua last September. It was an impressive display, with Dubois on the verge of finishing the fight on several occasions before Joshua finally fell to the ground in the fifth round. Prior to this, Dubois had secured the interim belt by knocking out Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round in June.
Dubois’ career hasn’t been without its challenges, though. His first professional defeat against Joe Joyce in 2020 was a tough one, with the British fighter suffering a severe injury to his left eye that could have ended his career. The fight was stopped in the tenth round due to the severity of the damage, which included a fracture to the orbital bone and a detached retina. As his promoter, Frank Warren, noted, “It was a luck that the fight stopped when he suffered the fracture, since otherwise, there was a clear risk that the damage was greater, punishing the orbital tissues and the extraocular muscles that move the ocular globe, causing double vision that could have ended his career.”
Despite this setback, Dubois has bounced back with a string of victories, including four consecutive knockout wins that earned him a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s titles in 2023. Although he lost that fight, Dubois has continued to rack up wins, and his upcoming match against Parker could set him up for a highly anticipated rematch against Usyk. In fact, after Usyk’s victory against Fury in December, Dubois confronted him in the ring, saying, “I want my revenge, Usyk. Well done tonight, God bless you, but I want my revenge.” The path to redemption for Dubois begins this Saturday, and a win against Parker could bring him one step closer to his goal.
The Rematch of a World Controversy
The controversy surrounding Dubois’ fight against Usyk still lingers, with many believing that a low blow from Dubois allowed Usyk to regain his composure and ultimately win the fight. The debate continues, but one thing is certain: a rematch between these two fighters would be a clash of titans. With Usyk’s recent victory against Fury cementing his status as a top boxer, Dubois is more determined than ever to prove himself and exact his revenge. This Saturday’s fight against Parker is just the beginning of Dubois’ journey towards redemption, and the boxing world will be watching closely to see how it all unfolds.