Daniel Dubois can set up a world heavyweight unification showdown with Oleksandr Usyk by defeating Joseph Parker in Riyadh on Saturday and it may only be the third or fourth best fight of an electrifying evening. There are six blockbuster battles on the outstanding card and genuine cases can be made for all 12 boxers having their arms raised in triumph such are the high standards that will be on show with the combatants suffering just a handful of defeats between them.
All the box-office affairs would be worthy headline acts in their own right and the action, which starts just after the full-time whistle has blown at football grounds back in the UK, will have fans marvelling at the supreme strength, skills and astonishing abilities of top-bracket athletes at their peak.
IBF champion Dubois destroyed Anthony Joshua in five explosive rounds at Wembley in September after overcoming defeats to Usyk and Joe Joyce by securing momentous victories against Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller and has now won 21 of his 22 victories inside the distance.
New Zealand’s former WBO title holder Parker, fighting for a world title for the fifth time, has beaten Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder and although he’s only been stopped once in his amazing career, Londoner Dubois will be too strong and powerful and is 10/11 with Ladbrokes and Coral to halt proceedings early, with Sky Bet offering 7/2 it’s between rounds five and eight.
The headline act is undisputed light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev’s defence of his titles in a rematch of his narrow points victory against Dmitrii Bivol in October, and the younger challenger may gain revenge to set up a third fight at the end of the year.
He’s 6/4 to win on points with bet365 but have a small saver on a true 50/50 scrap ending in a draw at 16/1 with William Hill, Betfair and Paddy Power. The main card commences with an all-English light-heavyweight thriller, with Joshua Buatsi set to edge Callum Smith on points at 5/4 with Sky Bet before German heavyweight Agit Kabayel finishes the stronger against giant Chinese opponent ‘Big Bang’ Zhang after 12 gripping rounds to gain the decision on the judges’ cards at 5/2 with bet365.
Slough middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz is a global star in the making, and can beat dangerous Dominican Carlos Adames on points at 5/2 with Sky Bet while Israil Madrimov pushed Terence Crawford all the way last time out and can also win on points against undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr at 12/5 with bet365.
• Our accounts were awash with cash after prime selection Ludvig Aberg won the Genesis Invitational on Sunday at 22/1 with Tommy Fleetwood bringing in the each-way part of our 30/1 flutter. With the vast majority of the PGA Tour’s top golfers enjoying a break before ramping up for the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Masters, it will pay to back Kurt Kitayama to prevail at this week’s Mexico Open at 20/1 with bet365 and also have each-way bets with the same firm on Stephan Jaeger at the same price, Aaron Rai at 28/1 and 30/1 former winner Jake Knapp.
• Leyton Orient, Charlton, Bradford and Bromley form Saturday’s Football League acca. Arrow MORE: Mike Tyson responds to claims he fought Jake Paul with Parkinson’s. Arrow MORE: Derek Chisora names three blockbuster possible opponents for 50th and final fight.
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