Daniel Dubois could subject Joseph Parker to an early onslaught that the former world champion may not be able to endure.
Parker, a previous holder of the WBO heavyweight title, challenges Britain’s Dubois for his IBF championship on February 22, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Parker is confident that he can take Dubois to breaking point. But the New Zealander has been warned he might not reach the second half of the fight himself.
Shane McGuigan, the Londoner’s previous trainer, told Sky Sports: “I think Daniel will stop him in four or five rounds.
“He’s going to go and let his hands go. Dan is a ferocious puncher.
“But if it goes past four or five rounds, Parker’s got a hell of a chance for sure. It’s just whether he can get through them.”
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On February 22nd watch Beterbiev v Bivol 2 and Dubois v Parker as part of the incredible ‘Last Crescendo’ fight night live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Parker has racked up good wins, beating Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang to set up this world title shot against Dubois.
But McGuigan said: “Parker’s on great form but I think he got a Zhang that ran out of steam, didn’t look like he was as fit and as up for it as he was against Joe Joyce. Zhang went into the Joe Joyce fight knowing that he couldn’t run out of steam because this guy will catch up with you.
“I think with Parker he thinks he’s a bit more of a calculated counter puncher. He dropped Parker a few times then he went to sleep and that’s how Parker got the decision. Just because he was a bit busier down the stretch.
“Wilder was a fraction of his former self and I just think there’s been fights in the past where Parker’s not looked the best. [Against] Jack Massey for instance, he stood right on the line for the right hand and if you give those opportunities to Daniel Dubois, he doesn’t hesitate.”
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Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker trade verbals ahead of their IBF heavyweight showdown on February 22.
Dubois showed how devastating he can be against Anthony Joshua, the former unified heavyweight world champion. He dropped Joshua multiple times before taking him out with a tremendous right that finished the fight.
“He didn’t give AJ the respect. He just went and let his hands go,” McGuigan reflected.
“Daniel also had hurt him sparring, when he was 17 or 18 years of age. So the last time they were in the ring together Daniel landed a decent shot against him. I don’t think he knocked him out or anything but he landed a decent shot and hurt him and I think he had that in the back of his head thinking: ‘When I was 17, 18, I got a good effect in sparring. If I hit this guy with 10 ounce gloves I can knock him out’ and that gave him confidence.
“With Daniel, everything’s about confidence. He’s seen Parker on the deck, he’ll have confidence. He didn’t see Joe Joyce on the deck. Maybe if he boxed Joe Joyce now Zhang’s stopped him, he’d go in there with a different mindset.
“He hasn’t seen [Oleksandr] Usyk on the deck so he hesitated a lot and wasn’t as aggressive as he could have been.
“I think he’ll go in there [against Parker] like he was against AJ. AJ’s been put on the floor against Andy Ruiz Jr, he’s going in there with a lot of confidence.”
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Oleksandr Usyk discussed whether he could offer Daniel Dubois a rematch should the Brit beat Joseph Parker in their IBF world heavyweight title fight next month.
Can Parker weather the storm?
Super-heavyweight Olympian Delicious Orie, who has now turned professional himself, however tipped Parker to overwhelm Dubois.
“I think Joseph Parker is very vulnerable to Daniel Dubois’ jab, I think he’s got an exceptional jab. But over time I think Parker will start to wear Daniel Dubois down. I do see Parker just about edging it and winning it to be honest,” Orie told Sky Sports.
A blockbuster Sky Sports Box Office bill features Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 as well as Dubois vs Parker.
“I genuinely do think Parker has been putting in the work behind the scenes. But of course Daniel Dubois is very confident.
“And in a way, I kind of did write him off against AJ. Everyone else did… So I wouldn’t be surprised if he surprises us all once again.
“I’ve always said hats off to him because after that loss to Joe Joyce and how he was able to recuperate and become a heavyweight champion is phenomenal and that takes some serious doing. So I give him a lot of respect and credit.”
Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker and the Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol rematch will be live on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book now!
