Daniel Dubois Set for Potential Title Defense Amidst Heavyweight Landscape
Daniel Dubois, the reigning heavyweight champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), has received the green light to make a voluntary defense of his title. The IBF has confirmed that the deadline for Dubois to fulfill a mandatory defense is April 22, 2025. This development opens up several exciting possibilities for Dubois as he prepares for his next bout. Following his impressive victory over Anthony Joshua, which ended in a fourth-round stoppage last month, it was widely anticipated that the two fighters would face off again. However, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated that Joshua plans to wait for the outcome of the highly anticipated match between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, scheduled for December 21, before making any decisions regarding his next fight. This situation leaves Dubois with the potential challenge of finding an opponent for his upcoming title defense.
Fabio Wardley Emerges as a Leading Contender for Dubois’ Title
With Anthony Joshua potentially sidelined, attention has turned to Fabio Wardley, who recently achieved a significant victory by knocking out Frazer Clarke on October 12. Wardley, currently ranked No. 12 in the IBF rankings, is being touted as a viable opponent for Dubois. IBF president Darryl People’s confirmed that Dubois is free to make an optional defense against any ranked fighter before the April 22 deadline. Meanwhile, Frank Warren, who promotes both Dubois and Wardley, has stated that Dubois is set to defend his title in February, regardless of whether Joshua is able to compete. In another significant development, the IBF has mandated a matchup between Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole, ranked three and four respectively, to fight in an eliminator for the vacant mandatory position. This scenario creates an intriguing backdrop for Dubois as he prepares for what promises to be an exciting title defense in the heavyweight division.
