Daniel Dubois next opponent revealed after illness thwarts Joseph Parker fight

Frank Warren revealed the two opponents Daniel Dubois will turn his attention towards after being forced to pull out of his fight with Joseph Parker. Dubois was set to make his second defence of his IBF world title against Parker on Saturday as part of a stacked card in Saudi Arabia headlined by the eagerly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

However, the 27-year-old was forced to pull out of the fight at late notice after failing to recover from a viral illness he has suffered since arriving in Saudi Arabia this week. While Parker remains on the card and will now fight Martin Bokole, Dubois will watch from the sidelines but could make a swift return in the next two or three months according to his promoter Warren.

A fight with Parker remains a possibility but Warren hinted that Dubois may now look to secure a rematch with Usyk, who he lost to in 2023, or entertain a second fight with Joshua who he knocked out in destructive fashion last year. ‘I feel the perverse thing out of it is we’ve got more of an option now,’ Warren told Sky Sports.

‘I’d like to see the rematch with Usyk. That’s an option, if it can be done I’d love that. ‘But then we’ve got Joe Parker, we’ve got AJ, who’s got over his injury and he may want to do it now with the fact he’s been ill, who knows?”.

Asked if discussions could take place with Usyk and Joshua while all three were in Riyadh, Warren said: ‘We’ll have a look and see. They’re all here. No doubt we’ll look and have a chat. ‘That’s all we do. This is a gathering of the clans. Sit down and have a chat and see what’s going on.’.

A fight with Usyk could see Dubois challenge to become the undisputed heavyweight champion and the Ukrainian appeared to be keen for the fight as well. ‘I want to fight next with Dubois,’ he told DAZN on Friday. Joshua, meanwhile, would relish the chance to avenge his defeat against Dubois according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

‘That’s what AJ wants. He wants to fight for the world heavyweight title. So that’s the number one priority,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘At this stage he’s about trying to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. He missed out on that opportunity last time and he’d love another crack.’.

For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Arrow MORE: Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol: Prediction for every fight on stacked Saudi card with Anthony Crolla. Arrow MORE: Daniel Dubois illness revealed as Martin Bakole travels to fight Joseph Parker.