British heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois will make his second title defence in Saudi Arabia, where he will face New Zealand’s former titleholder Joseph Parker on the 22nd of February.
At 27 years old, Dubois recently confirmed his prowess in the ring by securing his IBF title through a dramatic victory over Anthony Joshua this past September.
Joseph Parker, aged 32, is no stranger to championship glory, having previously clinched the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018, a title he eventually surrendered to Joshua.
The Riyadh event will also showcase Artur Beterbiev, who will defend his undisputed light-heavyweight championship in a highly anticipated rematch against Dmitry Bivol, also of Russia.
The fight card includes an array of talent with undefeated London native Hamzah Sheeraz taking on WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames for his first world title. Additionally, British light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith are set to clash for Buatsi’s WBO interim title.
American Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight championship against Floyd Schofield, and Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang will battle Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight belt, rounding out a night of premier boxing matchups.
Daniel Dubois ascended to the status of world champion following a dominant victory over Filip Hrgovic last year, a position solidified when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the championship belt. Dubois’s quick dispatch of Joshua in five rounds at Wembley Stadium further established his standing in the heavyweight category.
Joseph Parker returns to title contention on a winning run, having secured victories in his last four bouts, including notable triumphs over Deontay Wilder and Zhang.
In a previous encounter last October, Beterbiev edged out Bivol in a majority decision to claim the undisputed light-heavyweight championship, a decision that sparked debate among fight aficionados.
Meanwhile, former super-middleweight champion Callum Smith, having rebounded from a defeat to Beterbiev, secured his latest victory against Carlos Galvan and will now test himself against the unbeaten Buatsi, who snagged the interim title during the Joshua-Dubois undercard.
Hamzah Sheeraz, a 25-year-old from Ilford with a perfect professional record of 21-0, opted out of a fight against WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly to face the formidable Adames.
Dubois, buoyed by his emphatic win over Joshua, enters the ring with renewed vigour and an eye for a decisive victory over Parker, which could pave the way for a rematch with Joshua or a title unification bout against the winner of the upcoming match between Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Parker, under the guidance of trainer Andy Lee, has revitalized his career and is poised for another shot at the championship, demonstrating that he remains a formidable challenge for Dubois.
The event underscores Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in global boxing, highlighted by a card that not only features elite international fighters but also a significant British contest between Buatsi and Smith. This evening could also prove pivotal for Sheeraz, who, after honing his skills in the U.S., stands on the brink of a breakthrough to major boxing stardom.
