New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker has secured a long-awaited chance to compete for a world title. He will face IBF champion Daniel Dubois in a highly anticipated bout scheduled for February in Saudi Arabia.
The fight will take place on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol match, a showdown for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship. For Parker, it’s a shot at reclaiming a version of the WBO heavyweight title he first won in 2016 but lost two years later.
English fighter Daniel Dubois, who claimed the IBF title by defeating Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September, holds a record of 22 wins and 2 losses. At 27 years old, Dubois is known for his power, though he has shown vulnerabilities. He previously suffered a broken eye socket in a 2020 loss to Joe Joyce (who also defeated Parker) and was outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk, the current WBC, WBO, and WBA champion.
The fight, set for 23 February (NZT) in Riyadh, was confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s “Riyadh Season” social media accounts after being hinted at by 1News.
The event, titled The Crescendo, will feature other notable matchups, including a rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol after their recent close fight. Parker will also share the spotlight with Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, whom he defeated in Riyadh earlier this year. Zhang will take on Agit Kabayel.
The announcement has drawn attention from fans and athletes alike. UFC star Francis Ngannou, with over 7 million Instagram followers, congratulated Parker, saying, “Congrats brother, it’s your time.”
