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Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker: Who has the edge going into the fight?
Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker are peaking at the right time.
Each man has produced signature victories heading into Saturday night when Dubois will defend the IBF heavyweight world title against Parker at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, which can be purchased here. The winner will put himself in position for a possible showdown with unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk next.
With the stakes high, DAZN News analyzes who has the edge going into the highly-anticipated Dubois vs. Parker fight.
Boxing skills
Parker, a former WBO heavyweight world champion, produces a packaged tactical mix of speed, agility, power and precision as his bundle of sweet science skills that could present a complex puzzle for Dubois to solve.
Perhaps Dubois has better boxing skills than he is credited for, especially considering the way he sets opponents up, but the reigning IBF world titleholder is more known for his growing power.
The advantage here goes to Parker.
Edge: Parker
Punching Power
The 27-year-old Dubois has used his current three-fight winning streak as worldwide platforms to put the boxing universe on notice of his nightmarish power as he has knocked out Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and, most devastatingly, Anthony Joshua within a torrid nine-month rampage.
The streak has improved his record to 22-2, with 21 of those victories coming by the way of knockout.
Everyone at the heavyweight division has power, including a 33-year-old Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), but Dubois as a Bonafide knockout artist has the sizeable edge here.
Edge: Dubois
(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Confidence
Both Dubois and Parker are brimming with confidence entering this fight.
Dubois has come into his own with his three-fight winning streak, which was highlighted by his fifth-round destruction of Anthony Joshua in September.
And let us not forget that his ninth-round KO loss to Usyk in August 2023 included what many felt like was a knockout body shot on the belt line of the Ukrainian that was incorrectly called a low blow.
On the other hand, Parker has resurrected his own career with a five-fight winning streak highlighted by a dominant unanimous decision over knockout artist Deontay Wilder in December 2023 followed by a majority decision over a tough Zhilei Zhang less than three months later.
During fight week interviews with DAZN, Parker conceded that he thought Dubois would lose against Miller, Hrgovic and Joshua — only for “Dynamite” to prove him and any naysayers wrong.
That said, it is hard to overlook the confidence and momentum that Dubois is carrying into this fight.
Edge: Dubois
Experience
As the older veteran, Parker touts 14 more fights to his pro ledger than Dubois.
Though Dubois counts the reigning unified heavyweight king in Usyk and the former unified champ in AJ as part of his opponents’ history, Parker has experience against more quality opponents.
Zhang has a rich Olympic pedigree and was the WBO interim heavyweight titleholder before Parker eked out a victory over “Big Bang.”
Wilder was a feared, longtime WBC heavyweight champion and rounds with the likes of Joe Joyce, Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr. all helped sharpen Parker along the way to prime the New Zealander toward this critical juncture.
Simply put: As Parker gets older, he continues to show he is capable of making the adjustments needed to have his hand raised in victory.
Edge: Parker
Resolve
One could point to Parker’s mettle in defeating Wilder soundly to spoil a potential Joshua-Wilder mega fight or the fact that he managed to get up off the canvas twice and still score a majority decision over Zhang.
However, Parker’s doubt in Dubois defeating the likes of Miller, Hrgovic and especially Joshua were shared by many boxing critics and fans alike — only for the British fighter to shock and silence naysayers with each resounding victory.
This increasing resolve, coupled with his overflowing confidence, make Dubois a tough out for anyone at moment.
Perhaps, that is why he felt comfortable confronting a victorious Usyk in the ring following the Ukrainian’s second win over Tyson Fury this past December.
Edge: Dubois
Who has the edge in Dubois vs. Parker?
The ferocious, pouncing power of Daniel Dubois stacked up against the blended brilliance of Joseph Parker has "Dynamite" getting the close edge, 3-2.
Whether that is enough for him to produce another emphatic win and force a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk remains to be seen.
He has already called out the unified heavyweight world champion and now it comes down to Dubois fighting that bout into existence.
The boxing world will find out on DAZN PPV on Saturday night if he can do just that.
Watch Beterbiev vs Bivol and Dubois vs Parker live on DAZN PPV
Watch Beterbiev versus Bivol and the full Last Crescendo fight card, including Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The PPV is available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US.
Buying the DAZN PPV offers a range of extra benefits. including alternative commentary options with Adam Smith or True Geordie or Showbizz the Adult ; local language commentary; entry to a prize draw for tickets to Chris Eubank Jr. vs Connor Benn* (for UK only); and a seven-day free trial of the full DAZN platform.
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*UK only. Restrictions apply. See T&Cs on help.dazn.com. Full T&C's here
