IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois dismissed challenger Joseph Parker as “having his day” during their Face Off interview on DAZN ahead of their fight together in next month’s Riyadh season on February 22 on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 card.
Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) let the 33-year-old recently rejuvenated former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) know that his five-fight winning streak would end. Parker and his team have made a big deal out of his recent wins over 41-year-old Zhilei Zhang and 39-year-old Deontay Wilder.
The win over Zhang was questionable, as Parker was knocked out twice in the fight, and it seemed like it should have been a loss under the circumstances. After three fights against Tyson Fury, Wilder looked like a destroyed fighter.
So it’s no surprise that Parker beat him because he looked like a classic example of an old fighter who couldn’t pull the trigger anymore. Wilder still had strength, but his reflexes were 100% gone.
Dubois, 27, is coming off a career-best fifth-round knockout victory over former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Surprisingly, AJ didn’t even try to avenge his loss by seeking an immediate rematch like he did after his losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s rejection of the rematch signaled that he, or perhaps his promoters, did not feel he was up to the task.
Dubois Too strong?
Daniel Dubois: “He’s been fit for the last couple of fights but he’s had his day,” said the IBF heavyweight champion DAZN boxingpromoting his February 22 title defense.
Joseph Parker: “I 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 take the opportunity. I will be better than him in every part. Power and speed,”
Coach Andy Lee: “We know what Daniel has. Great shot, great power and speed, to some extent. He’s not as fast as Joe, nor does he work his feet as well as Joe. What Joe has is intelligence. He is a smart fighter. That’s how we reduced Deontay Wilder’s power, and that’s how we fought and outplayed Zhang. What people underestimate is his extra size, and you’ll see that.”
Parker: “I’ve been quietly building for what’s to come, and now we have this man.”
Dubois: “I’m ready to fight. It’s the same thing. It’s just a different day.”
Frank Warren: “None of them take it lightly. It’s all about believing in yourself.”
