Daniel Dubois has made a big splash in the heavyweight division. The 27-year-old boxer knocked out Anthony Joshua to win the IBF heavyweight title, proving he's a real force to be reckoned with.
Dubois came into the fight as the underdog but quickly showed he meant business. He dropped Joshua in the first round and followed up with two more knockdowns before the fight ended in the fifth. It's worth noting that Dubois had been elevated to IBF champion when Oleksandr Usyk gave up the belt. Usyk, who was once the undisputed champion, had previously beaten both Dubois and Joshua.
After the fight, Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, said his fighter would want a rematch right away. Dubois was all for it, saying he'd finish the job even quicker next time.
But things have changed. Hearn now says Joshua probably won't be ready for Dubois's next fight in February. Instead, Joshua might return to the ring in the summer of 2025. There's talk he could face Tyson Fury then, depending on how Fury's rematch with Usyk goes in December.
So, who will Dubois fight in February? We're still waiting to find out. Joseph Parker is ready to step in. He's a former WBO World Champion and is in great form lately. Parker has beaten some big names like Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. He's currently the WBO Interim champion.
Parker is ready.
That's what Andy Lee, Parker's trainer, said on Twitter on October 29, 2024. But there's a snag – Parker isn't ranked by the IBF right now because he holds that WBO Interim title.
Other boxers in the mix are Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole. The IBF has told these two to fight each other to decide who's next in line for a title shot.
We should hear about Dubois's next move soon. Keep an eye on the IBF rankings for any changes that might give us a clue about his next opponent.
