Daniel Dubois defends his IBF heavyweight world title against former WBO Champion Joseph Parker on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
The fight is big enough to headline most cards but on this occasion it serves as the chief support for the undisputed light heavyweight rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol.
This is a huge match-up between two comeback kings of the heavyweight division. Dubois had to rebuild after a devastating loss to Joe Joyce and defeat to Oleksandr Usyk to become a world champion, while Parker is back in a world title fight for the first time since losing his WBO crown to Anthony Joshua nearly seven years ago.
- DANIEL DUBOIS TO WIN BY KO/TKO/DQ
- DANIEL DUBOIS TO WIN IN ROUNDS 7-12
Dubois’ Power Could Be The Difference
Daniel Dubois goes into the fight as a big favourite but this could be a far closer contest than the odds suggest.
Parker is a better technician and mover than the defending champion, and if this fight does go the full distance he is the more likely of the two to have his hand raised.
Parker outboxed and outpointed the huge Zhilei Zhang in his last bout, and did the same to knockout specialist and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder before facing China’s Big Bang.
However, he was dropped twice by Zhang on his way to victory and Dubois may need only one chance to get the job done.
Dubois has a 22-2 record and 21 of his wins have come inside the distance, and he boasts the kind of power that allows him to finish fights off with one successful attack rather than via a culmination of telling blows.
Dynamite also managed to put down Usyk with a bodyshot that was harshly judged to be a low blow, so at some stage he should be able to find a way through Parker’s defences and connect with a decent shot.
It is worth noting that Parker has been stopped only once, by Joyce, but he has been floored a few times in his career, with Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte both able to knock him down.
Dubois hasn’t been dragged into too many long fights but when he has he’s proved that he can carry his power deep into battles. He stopped the previously unbeaten American Jarrell Miller in the 10th and final round of their 2023 clash, so he will remain a danger right until the end against Parker. At some stage he can make sure of victory without needing the judges.
DANIEL DUBOIS TO WIN BY KO/TKO/DQ
Dubois Can Strike In Second Half
Parker has enough class and skill to take this fight into the second half and Dubois may have to bide his time to get a stoppage.
The 27-year-old stopped Anthony Joshua in the fifth round in his last fight but AJ appeared unprepared and he left himself too open. Parker won’t make those mistakes and he knows his best chance will be to keep moving in and out of range, rather than try and engage in a firefight with Dubois.
Dubois will be comfortable waiting for his moment and his best chances are likely to come as Parker begins to tire, so a bet on the Briton to win in the second half of the fight looks a good way to get a bigger price out of backing the favourite.
DANIEL DUBOIS TO WIN IN ROUNDS 7-12
