Joseph Parker 'champing at the bit' for Daniel Dubois showdown and CAN DO what Anthony Joshua couldn't
Parker is the WBO interim champion and his team are hoping to land a shot at new IBF title holder Daniel Dubois following his stunning win over Joshua
by Anthony Evans, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/authors/anthony-evans/ · Daily RecordJoseph Parker's team are hoping to land a shot at Daniel Dubois and believe their man can do what Anthony Joshua couldn't by beating the new heavyweight world champion.
Dubois made the first defence of his IBF crown on Saturday with a stunning fifth round knockout of former two-time world champion Joshua, cementing his position as one of the top men in the division. The 27-year-old will now be eyeing up a bout with the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21 in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed title, with Ukraine star Usyk currently holding the other three major belts.
But another man who could be in the frame to face Dubois is New Zealand boxer Parker, who has got himself back into world title contention with a string of impressive victories. Former WBO champion Parker lost his strap to Joshua six years ago but is on the cusp of another world title shot after scoring superb wins against Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder last year.
Chinese star Zhang has the option to exercise a rematch with Parker, 32, while Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Joshua could get the chance to immediately avenge his defeat from last weekend. But Parker's promoter David Higgins insists his man his "champing at the bit" to get in the ring with Dubois following his mega victory at Wembley. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Whenever, anywhere, anytime. Joseph would love to fight Daniel Dubois next, he's chomping at the bit.
"Joseph is ready to fight anyone but if he was given the opportunity to fight Daniel Dubois, he'd grab it with both hands and he would back himself to win. I think besides Fury vs Usyk II, Parker vs Dubois I think - in the heavyweights - will be the best fighting the best.
"Parker is on a roll and has surprised people and I think you could say the same about Daniel Dubois. Styles makes fights and I think the fans would love to see Joseph Parker versus Daniel Dubois, so if the powers that be are willing to make that fight, that would be a wonderful thing.
"He's been doing a lot of off-season work with George Lockhart on building up some more size and strength. I think we'll see an even better Joseph Parker at the next outing.
"He [Parker] has fought his way, earned his way back to the mandatory position in the WBO interim world champion. He has done that the old-fashioned way by stepping up and consecutively beating some of the toughest opponents in the world.
"He has no fear of Daniel Dubois. He'd fight him anywhere, anytime and back himself to beat and knock out Daniel Dubois."
Higgins has also voiced his concerns about a potential rematch between Dubois and Joshua following the heavy nature of the 2012 Olympic gold medallists' defeat on Saturday. "I think the stamina, the energy that Dubois brought to the ring, it was totally one-sided and Joshua looked shell shocked throughout the fight," he added. "I'd say it was more dominant than Andy Ruiz's victory over Joshua.
"I hope he [Joshua] doesn't seek a rematch with Dubois because I don't think anyone would want to see that, no disrespect. AJ has had a wonderful career too, but there's probably a bit of - if he wants to continue - rebuilding to be done.
"I'm not sure jumping straight back in with Daniel Dubois would be the best thing, but that's not for me to say. [It's for] Eddie Hearn and AJ and his management to decide."
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