Breaking! Daniel Dubois puts fight in jeopardy, withdraws from Joseph Parker bout after falling ill

Daniel Dubois pulled out of facing Joseph Parker in IBF title defense as DAZN Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 continues to fall apart.

Breaking! Daniel Dubois puts fight in jeopardy, withdraws from Joseph Parker bout after falling ill

Daniel Dubois ill and out, won't face Joseph Parker (Source: YT/X)

The Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 fight card is facing its 11th hour of woes and jitters, and things are getting worse. Heavyweight titan Daniel Dubois had to withdraw from his IBF title defense vs. Joseph Parker, per combat journo Ariel Helwani. Dubois suffered from some undisclosed illness.

Dubois vs. the highly sought Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) was to be the co-feature fight for Saturday’s rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on DAZN PPV. Ring Magazine was the first to report that the fight was in jeopardy. Since then, it had emerged that HW Lawrence Okolie, David Adeleye, and Mourad Aliev could replace the ailing “Dynamite.” Parker led the charge to wish him well.

If he is ill, I hope he gets well soon and I’m looking forward to Saturday and a great show…

Joseph Parker said in a media availability on Thursday
YouTube video

British-born Daniel Dubois won the interim belt in June by defeating Filip Hrgovic. He then got an upgrade to champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated due to his rematch clause with Tyson Fury. Dubois then defeated fellow Briton and former WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO hotshot Anthony Joshua by knockout at Wembley in September to retain his title.

Five world champions are in consideration for the ‘2024 Fighter of the Year’ moniker. But Usyk made a better case than most. Even than LHW Beterbiev, Canelo Alvarez, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, and IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super bantamweight champ Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue.

The Dubois vs. Joseph Parker scrap was significant. It’d have hoisted him to battle Usyk for the unified straps at some point later this year. It’d be one of the “Cat’s” last legacy fights too. But now things go stale for him for a while.

Martin Bakole now faces Joseph Parker in HW clash on Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 fight card

One’s sorrow is another’s gain. Daniel Dubois was in a prime spot to challenge the HW boxing king. While reluctant, even Usyk urged Saudi GEA boxing mogul and chief Turki Alalshikh that he was ready for it. Interestingly, if these two heavyweights were to meet again, the undisputed heavyweight status would also be on the line. Dubois had the opportunity to make history by winning the undisputed title at such a young age. But now, late fill-in Martin Bakole treads ahead.

Joseph Parker gets new name on the block
Joseph Parker gets new name on the block (Source: X)

Just one day after Floyd Schofield Jr. was pulled from fighting Shakur Stevenson, the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 fight card faced another pitfall. There were significant hint drops that the Saudi GEA would get inventive. Zhilei Zhang or Agit Kabayel were to come in as the opponent for Parker to fight in the co-feature spot. But now, Bakole gets the big straw against the WBO interim heavyweight champion.

But don’t fret, because Bakole is up and game for the co-headliner. Bakole has 16 knockouts to his name, seven of which have come in the first round. He also happens to be the WBC International Heavyweight champion. He snagged the WBO International and vacant WBC-NABF Heavyweight titles last August. The winner of Saturday’s (22 February) showdown will likely get the chance to face Dubois later this year.

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