IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois dismissed challenger Joseph Parker as having “made his day” during their Face Off interview on DAZN ahead of their co-feature fight of the Riyadh season next month, February 22 , on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 card.
Dubois (22-2, 21 KO) let the recently rejuvenated 33-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (35-3, 23 KO) know that his five-fight winning streak was going to end. Parker and his team made a big deal about his recent wins over 41-year-old Zhilei Zhang and 39-year-old Deontay Wilder.
The victory over Zhang was questionable, as Parker was dropped twice in the fight, and it seemed like it should have been a defeat under the circumstances. Wilder looked like a ruined fighter after his three fights against Tyson Fury.
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. The power was still there for Wilder, but the reflexes were 100% gone.
Dubois, 27, is coming off his best fifth-round knockout victory against former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Surprisingly, AJ didn’t even try to avenge his defeat by demanding an immediate rematch, as he did after his losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s refusal to participate in the rematch indicated that he or perhaps his promoters did not feel up to the task.
Dubois too strong?
Daniel Dubois: “He’s been in good shape in his last two fights, but he’s had his day,” the IBF heavyweight champion told DAZN Boxingpromoting his title defense on February 22.
Joseph Parker: “I’ve only just started. My day is coming.
Dubois: “And 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 did 11 laps.
Dubois: “I will be up to it. I will be better than him in everything. Strength and speed, »
Coach Andy Lee: “We know what Daniel has. A good jab, great power and some speed. He’s not as fast as Joe, and he doesn’t have as good footwork as Joe. What Joe does have is intelligence. He’s a smart fighter. That’s how we defused Deontay Wilder’s power, and that’s how we fought and outsmarted Zhang. What people underestimate is his extra size, and you’re going to see it.
Parker: “I’ve been building quietly in anticipation of 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 this lightly. It’s all about self-confidence. »
