Queensberry Promotions promoter Frank Warren has great news! Joe Parker The Kiwi would be heavily favored against the winner of the upcoming Oleksandr Usyk/Daniel Dubois battle. That unprecedented four-belt showdown is scheduled for July 19 and already sold out at London’s legendary Wembley Stadium. The news follows an earlier pull out by Dubois from a scheduled bout with Parker earlier this year due to illness.
Daniel Dubois, 27, is the IBF championship fighter for Great Britain. At the same time, Oleksandr Usyk already holds the title as the champion of the WBA, WBC and WBO. This bracket-style tournament will crown the champion of these belts. Beyond that, it will lay the groundwork for Parker to make a serious second run at topping the heavyweight division.
Background on the Upcoming Fight
It may end up being one of the most consequential fights in boxing history. As a result, it’s set up to be a potentially explosive matchup between two elite warriors, each with plenty of hardware and aspirations for more. Usyk, hailing from Ukraine, aims to defend his titles against Dubois, who has been a rising star in the sport.
Warren’s statement underlined how pivotal this fight is for Parker as well. He noted that following the bout, “the winner of this fight (Usyk v Dubois) has to defend against the WBO mandatory challenger, which is Joe Parker.” This new historical mandate from the WBO places even more stakes into this eagerly anticipated match, all while showcasing the willingness of Parker to challenge for the titles.
Impact of Dubois’ Withdrawal
Daniel Dubois was supposed to fight Joe Parker in Saudi Arabia last February. Health issues sidelined him for that bout, leaving Parker without an opponent. This controversial decision sent shockwaves through the boxing world and left many wondering what was next for Parker.
Warren responded to questions on Parker’s emotional response to the entire ordeal. He remarked, “People might be saying ‘Oh, Joe must be peed off he’s not fighting Daniel.’” It seems Parker’s patience is beginning to bear fruit. Thanks to what has transpired recently, he’s got a very legitimate chance at the title!
The Significance of the Four-Belt Showdown
The Usyk vs Dubois bout isn’t just another fight on the boxing calendar, it’s a key turning point in heavyweight division history. With four undisputed titles up for grabs, as much as both fighters have everything to lose, they equally have everything to gain. For the winning team, in addition to establishing their legacy, they’ll set themselves up as the class of what could be a very competitive division.
For Parker, he will be anxiously looking for the result of this match up, with a win putting him right back in the title picture. The heavyweight landscape as well though is never stagnant. Each match counts in the career of a fighter struggling to gain recognition in the sport.
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