Daniel Dubois has been given the inexperienced gentle to make an ‘non-obligatory defence’ of his IBF world title towards Fabio Wardley in a bumper British heavyweight battle.
Dubois retained his IBF belt after a shocking fifth-round stoppage win over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium final month.
Talks for a rematch between Dubois and Joshua in early 2025 have been placed on maintain amid considerations from Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn in regards to the ‘quick turnaround’ and Wardley may emerge as a alternative opponent for Dubois.
IBF President Daryl Peoples confirmed that Dubois ‘could make an non-obligatory protection towards any ranked fighter earlier than April 22’, when requested a few potential struggle towards Wardley.
Wardley has propelled himself into the IBF rankings and world title competition after inflicting a first-round knockout on Frazer Clarke on this month’s rematch.
Talking to Sky Sports activities this month, Wardley stated: “It must be a stage of smartness going into this now about how we choose my subsequent opponent, who they’re, how they’re ranked, how that struggle and that win would set me up going ahead.
“Clearly hoping to get some form of eliminator, world title shot, one thing alongside these traces.
“So yeah, it’s going to be a bit more of a strategic one.”
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Fabio Wardley displays on his unimaginable first-round KO towards Frazer Clarke and the way he ready himself within the lead as much as the struggle
With 17 knockouts in 18 wins, Wardley could be a threatening opponent in an enormous home showdown with Dubois, who has 21 knockouts in his 22 wins.
Frank Warren, the promoter of Dubois, has confirmed his fighter will defend his IBF title towards a special challenger, if Joshua isn’t prepared for a rematch.
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Johnny Nelson thinks Anthony Joshua has ‘no excuses’ after being demolished by Daniel Dubois and says AJ must resolve on his future in boxing
“He is the champion and it’ll be done on his terms,” Warren informed Sky Sports activities.
“Daniel will defend his title in February and if it’s not Joshua then it’ll be against somebody who is ranked in the top five.”
Hearn had admitted that Joshua’s may require longer preparation time for a second struggle towards Dubois.
“Our concern at the moment is just timing,” Hearn informed Sky Sports activities.
“You’ve got a few little niggles, you get them looked at and then you can’t punch again for four, five weeks. If we’re going to fight him in February, we need to start camp in about three weeks’ time. It’s quite a fast turnaround.”
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A have a look at the response of the Sky Sports activities Boxing studio as Fabio Wardley emphatically stops Frazer Clarke inside one spherical
Deadline for Dubois?
After April 22, the IBF will implement a compulsory title defence for Dubois, which is prone to be towards the winner of Martin Bakole’s closing eliminator struggle towards Agit Kabayel.
The IBF laws state the champion “shall be obligated to mandatorily defend his championship within intervals of no more than nine months against the leading available contender in the heavyweight division as designated by the championships chairman”.
The IBF has, nonetheless, said that Dubois could be free to pursue a unification bout after this date.
The one unification struggle out there to Dubois could be towards the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch and thus a shot on the undisputed heavyweight title.
Usyk will struggle Fury in Saudi Arabia on December 21, with the WBC, WBO and WBA belts at stake.
