Reigning IBF Heavyweight champion, Daniel Dubois, and interim WBO title holder, Joseph Parker, have come face-to-face in the first official press conference ahead of their title fight in Saudi Arabia next month.
Both fighters were in the mood to trash talk each other, with Parker seemingly saying Dubois is not focused as he has his sights on another fight – Dubois wants to face Oleksandr Usyk and made that abundantly clear after the latter beat Tyson Fury in December 2024.
“He might be looking too far ahead and planning big fights. I’m a big fighter. You’ve got a fight right in front of you right now,” Parker said at the press conference held in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabia capital.
Dubois was adamant his focus is unwavering. “I’ve got my mind firmly set on you,” the Brit said. “This is show business… I’m going to do a demolition job on [Parker] first then I want [Oleksandr] Usyk next. I’m ready for it, I’m on a roll so bring him on.”
Dubois beat Anthony Joshua to retain the IBF crown last year while Parker got the better of China’s Zhilei Zhang.