Daniel Dubois has repeatedly been allowed by the IBF to make an optional defense of his heavyweight title against 12-ranked Fabio Wardley later if the rematch with Anthony Joshua does not happen on February 22.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Joshua, 35, may not be ready for the rematch with Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) on February 22 because he has some “niggles” (translation: minor injuries) that may prevent him from be back soon .
Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) would be a popular choice for Dubois to defend for the fans of the United Kingdom, who is tall on the age of 29. He has operated at the British level for his entire career of eight years old and is coming off a first-round knockout win over Frazer Clarke on October 12 in Riyadh.
That quick knockout was more of a fluke thing for Wardley because he’s not that kind of talent. In his previous fight against Frazer, he fought to a 12-round draw last March, which left Fabio’s face almost unrecognizable due to his punishment. It looked like it had been stepped on.
In the rematch, Wardley caught Clarke with a clubbing fan punch in the first round that stunned him. He then finished it off before he could recover. Again, Wardley’s choice would appeal to British fans, but wouldn’t do much for non-British fans, and would likely be a mismatch.
Dubois is on another level than Wardley and is a real world fighter. Wardley has yet to cut his teeth on top-level competition during his career, and it’s too early for him to fight a talent like Dubois.
“Daniel Dubois has been given the green light to make an ‘optional defence’ of his IBF world title against Fabio Wardley”, per Sky Sports if Anthony Joshua’s rematch doesn’t happen.
Better options for Dubois’ Next Defense
– Acts Kabaiel
– Martin Bakole
– Zhilei Zhang
– Jared Anderson
Joseph Parker was mentioned as a possibility, but his fighting style is too negative, and very boring to watch. Parker was a fun fighter, but after his KO loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, he reinvented himself as a runner and is now not exciting to watch.
If Dubois beat Parker, he would need to be prepared to deal with a lot of movement and clinching. This is Parker’s fighting style is poisonous to the eyes.
