By Eóin Kennedy
Frank Warren, the promoter of IBF heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois, yesterday confirmed that Anthony Joshua will not be triggering the rematch clause against his charge and as a result Dubois is searching for a new opponent for his February 22nd world title defense in Saudi Arabia. With Joshua out, heavyweight boxing’s new man of the moment, Dubois, has a variety of options to choose from. Let’s look at the list of possible challengers and predict which one will get the blessing of Warren and Dubois.
Fabio Wardley
Fabio Wardley put the heavyweight division on notice with his destructive first round knockout win over Frazer Clarke just a few weeks ago. The British and Commonwealth champion has proven himself to be a ferocious puncher so far in his career and the win over Clarke propelled Wardley into the world title conversation for the first time. Wardley and Dubois are both Englishmen and anytime a world title fight occurs between compatriots, the domestic rivalry is a sub-plot that sells itself. Don’t expect it to happen though. Warren has stated that it’s a fight that would be better served being allowed to build for a while. Usually boxing fans hate the idea of fights marinating but with this one it makes sense. Wardley only came to professional boxing through the white-collar iteration of the sport and therefore is already a late starter, and his biggest win to date is over Clarke, who has only had ten professional fights himself. Wardley is better off steering clear of the top dogs for now and would be wise to continue learning on the job a while longer. Don’t expect to see this one next.
Dubois vs Wardley – Likelihood of happening next: 3/10
Joseph Parker
Nobody deserves a heavyweight world title shot more than former WBO champion, Joseph Parker. The New Zealander has been the revelation of Riyadh Season, beating both Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in the last twelve months. The only two heavyweights that could argue to be in better form are Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk. Frank Warren did discuss the possibility of Parker as a possible challenger in February whilst on radio show TalksSport and remarked that he liked the idea of that fight but was also sure to reiterate that they were looking at a few options. A true promoter, comitting to nothing. Parker is a top-drawer heavyweight and may be deemed too risky by team-Dubois. This will only be the IBF champion’s second title defense, and they may opt to take what’s seen as a more favorable route rather than taking on such a difficult assignment hot on the heels of the Joshua victory so early in Dubois’ reign.
Dubois vs Parker – Likelihood of happening next: 5/10
Martin Bakole
Congolese powerhouse Martin Bakole and has been screaming for a world title shot for quite some time now but it wasn’t until his statement knockout victory over Top Rank’s next big American heavyweight hope, Jared Anderson, last August that the boxing fans and governing bodies alike have truly thrown Bakole’s name in the mix to fight the champions of the division. Widespread reports state that he is heading towards a November 5th purse bid for a fight with Agit Kabayel(see below) for the right to be mandatory challenger to Dubois’ title. Bakole is ranked number four with the IBF so he would have no issue getting the the governing body’s blessing as a voluntary title defense for Dubois, should a step-aside deal be agreed with Kabayel. Both Dubois and Bakole also fight under Turki Al-Sheikh’s Riyadh Season banner in conjunction with Warren’s Queensbury Promotions so negotiations should be smooth. I fancy this one could be on the cards next.
Dubois vs Bakole – Likelihood of happening next: 8/10
Agit Kabayel
Ranked just one place ahead of Bakole in the IBF rankings is German heavyweight Agit Kabayel and the highly regarded fighter has been lingering on the cusp of the top of the rankings for a while. Take almost everything I wrote in the paragraph above about Bakole and insert it here for Kabayel because they are in almost identical places in their careers. Kabayel has a good chance of getting picked as Dubois’s February challenger and Bakole may be the beneficiary of the step-aside dough. Either makes sense.
Dubois vs Kabayel – Likelihood of happening: 7/10
Efe Ajagba
At thirty years of age its fair to say that Nigerian fighter, Efe Ajagba, is still young when it comes to heavyweight boxing. But it’s also completely understandable when boxing fans argue that Ajagba’s career hasn’t accelerated as expected and that point is true given the expectations Bob Arum and Top Rank had set out for him. But again, Ajagba is young and has only registered one defeat in twenty-one fights thus far and that was to wily old veteran, Frank Sanchez, three years ago. Ajagba wouldn’t be the most exhilarating opponent for fans should Warren and Dubois opt to select him, but he wouldn’t be an outrageous choice. Ajagba is a Top Rank fighter, and they work in close partnership with Warren’s Queensbury Promotions and both outfits work in partnership with Al-Sheikh’s Riyadh Season. Don’t be surprised to see Dubois vs Ajagba in February.
Dubois vs Ajagba – Likelihood of happening: 6/10
