On February 22 at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) will defend his IBF world title against Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs). Dubois vs Parker will be an integral part of a loaded Riyadh Season card that will be available to watch through various PPV platforms. Ahead of this IBF title clash – we are bringing you a full breakdown of this intriguing heavyweight contest.
The current IBF champion is the bookmakers’ favourite, with most pricing him at 2/5 for the win. His recent form has revitalised his career following a gutsy victory over Jarrell Miller and a stoppage win against Filip Hrgovic. Following these two victories, “Dynamite” scored a sensational KO win over Anthony Joshua.
Parker has won his last five fights, including high-profile wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. The New Zealand fighter is an intelligent fighter who should pose Dubois different problems. He picks his punches well and doesn’t waste much. He moves his head well and controls the distance in his fights. He’s also tough, as proven when surviving two knockdowns to beat Zhang.
“Dynamite” is heavy-handed as proven by his KO of AJ and his knockout record. His chin which has been questioned in the past, stood up impressively against Hrgovic and Joshua, allaying any fears. Parker will need to survive an early onslaught from Dubois who will look to let his power jab go and establish the distance. The challenger must move his head and feet early and control the distance, before dragging Dubois into the later rounds. The Auckland native is an impressive counterpuncher, and this could be a vital weapon during this fight.
This is a fascinating match-up, showcasing both power and ring IQ in abundance.
Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Dubois vs Parker, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.
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