Heavyweight Champion Dubois to Battle Parker in Saudi Arabia

British boxer Daniel Dubois, who holds a professional record of 22 victories (including 21 knockouts) and two defeats, is scheduled to defend his world heavyweight title against former champion Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on February 22. Parker’s professional record stands at 35 wins and three losses. The 27-year-old Dubois successfully defended his IBF belt for the first time by defeating Anthony Joshua in September. Parker, a 32-year-old New Zealander, previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018, a reign that concluded with a loss to Joshua. The fight card in Riyadh also features several other significant bouts. Artur Beterbiev is set to defend his undisputed light-heavyweight championship in a rematch against his compatriot Dmitry Bivol. Undefeated London-based fighter Hamzah Sheeraz will contend for his first world title against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames. Additionally, British light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith will compete for Buatsi’s WBO interim title. Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight belt against Floyd Schofield, and Zhilei Zhang will face Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight title, completing the high-profile event. Dubois secured an interim title last year with a notable victory over Filip Hrgovic, subsequently being elevated to world champion status after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt. The London fighter further established his claim as a world champion by unexpectedly defeating two-time champion Joshua within five rounds at Wembley Stadium. Parker’s opportunity for a title shot follows a four-fight winning streak, which includes significant victories against Deontay Wilder and Zhang in his two most recent contests. In October, Beterbiev claimed a majority decision victory over Bivol, becoming the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion since 2002. This marked Bivol’s first professional defeat, with numerous ringside commentators expressing the view that he should have been awarded the decision. Callum Smith, a former super-middleweight world champion, was defeated by Beterbiev in January in a bout for the unified light-heavyweight titles. However, Smith secured a victory against Carlos Galvan on Saturday, earning him a challenge against the undefeated Buatsi, who had previously won the WBO interim title on the undercard of the Joshua-Dubois event. The 25-year-old Hamzah Sheeraz, hailing from Ilford, maintains an undefeated professional record of 21 wins, with 17 of those coming by stoppage. He opted out of a mandated fight against WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly to instead face Dominican Adames, whose record shows only one loss in 25 professional contests. According to Kal Sajad of BBC Sport, Dubois continues to benefit from the momentum of his decisive victory over Joshua. He has transformed into a self-assured, audacious puncher, a stark contrast to the fighter who was defeated by Joe Joyce in 2020, and is anticipated to aim for a stoppage victory against Parker. Should Dubois achieve this, it could lead to a profitable rematch with Joshua or an undisputed championship bout against the victor of the December fight between fellow champions Usyk and Tyson Fury. However, it is important to note that Dubois faces a formidable opponent. Parker has experienced a resurgence since partnering with trainer Andy Lee and is considered fully deserving of another opportunity to compete for a world title. Saudi Arabia’s increasing impact on the sport of boxing is evident once more with this extensive fight card, which features a second encounter between two of the sport’s top pound-for-pound talents, Beterbiev and Bivol. The addition of an all-British clash between Buatsi and Smith was particularly well-received. This event holds the potential to be a pivotal moment for Sheeraz, who possesses the attributes to achieve global boxing superstardom. Following a modest amateur career, he developed his skills in the professional ranks and subsequently moved to the United States. He is described as an articulate and respectful individual, now presented with the chance to see his dedication and sacrifices yield significant rewards. The full fight lineup includes: * Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol 2 (undisputed light-heavyweight championship) * Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker (IBF heavyweight title) * Carlos Adames v Hamzah Sheeraz (WBC middleweight title) * Shakur Stevenson v Floyd Schofield (WBC lightweight title) * Vergil Ortiz Jr v Israil Madrimov (super-welterweight) * Zhilei Zhang v Agit Kabayel (heavyweight) * Joshua Buatsi v Callum Smith (light-heavyweight)