IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois dismissed challenger Joseph Parker as “his day” when he shut his mouth in Dajan ahead of their Riyadh season co-feature fight, on the Arturbiev v Dmitri Bival 2 card next month on February 22.
Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) has given Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), a 33-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion, a chance to revive his five-fight winning streak. Parker and his team made a big deal out of his recent victories over 41-year-old Jill Zhang and 39-year-old Deontay Wilder.
The win against Jung was in question, as Parker was knocked out twice in the fight, and it looked like it should have been a loss under the circumstances. After three fights against Tyson Fury, Wilder looked like a doomed fighter.
So, it’s no surprise that Parker beat him because he looked like a classic example of a veteran fighter who can no longer pull the trigger. The strength was still there for Wilder, but the reflexes were gone at 100%.
Dubois (2,) scored a career-best fifth-round knockout over former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Sept. 21 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Surprisingly, AJ didn’t even try to avenge his loss by pushing for an immediate rematch, as he did after his losses to Oleksandr Yuzyk and Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s refusal to take the rematch indicated that he, or perhaps his promoters, did not feel he was up to the task.
Is Dubois too strong?
Daniel Dubois: “He’s been in form for his last few fights, but he’s had his day,” said the IBF heavyweight champion. Daj BoxingPromotes his title defense on February 22.
Joseph Parker: “I’ve just started. my day is coming “
Dubois: “What about Joe Joyce? What happened?”
Parker: “I was sick. What about Joe Joyce for you? “
Dubois: “It’s different.”
Parker: “He should have knocked me out in the first round. i was sick I went 11 rounds. “
Dubois: “I will rise to the occasion. I will be better than him in every department. power and speed,”
Coach Andy Lee: “We know what Daniel has. A great job, great power and some speed. He’s not as fast as Joey, and doesn’t move as well as Joey. All Joe has is intelligence. He is a clever warrior. That’s how we downplayed Deontay Wilder’s power and that’s how we fought and outmatched Jung. What people are underestimating is his added size, and you’re going to see it. “
Parker: “I’ve been quietly chipping away at what’s to come, and now we have this guy.”
Dubois: “I’m ready to fight. It’s the same thing. It’s just a different day. “
Frank Warren: “None of them are taking it lightly. It’s all about confidence. “
