Anthony Joshua thinks Joseph Parker will beat Daniel Dubois in their upcoming fight. The former world champion shared his prediction ahead of the February 22 bout in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua knows both fighters well. He fought Parker back in 2018, winning a points decision. At the time, Parker was the WBO champion and the first boxer to take Joshua the full 12 rounds. More recently, Joshua faced Dubois in September. That fight didn't go his way, with Dubois knocking him out inside five rounds.
"I've been in the ring with both guys. Based on that experience, I'm picking Parker to win," Joshua said.
Parker, a 35-year-old New Zealander, has had a strong run lately. He beat Deontay Wilder on points in 2023 and followed that up with another points win over Zhilei Zhang in 2024. Dubois, on the other hand, comes into the fight as the IBF World Champion. He's riding high after big wins over Jarrell Miller, Fillip Hrgovic, and of course, Joshua.
The stakes are high for this heavyweight clash. The winner will likely get a shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds three belts. For Joshua, the outcome could shape his path back to the top. He's aiming to become a three-time champion and wants a rematch with Dubois to avenge his recent loss.
Joshua plans to be at ringside for the fight. He'll be in good company, as Turki Alalshikh from Riyadh Season will also be there. Interestingly, Alalshikh sees things differently, backing Dubois to keep his belt.
No matter who wins, the heavyweight division is set for an exciting year. Joshua will be watching closely, ready to jump back into the title picture at the first opportunity.
