THREE emergency replacements have been lined up to replace Daniel Dubois amid concern he could be about to pull out of his fight with Joseph Parker.
Dubois’ heavyweight bout is in jeopardy after news broke that the Brit fighter is SICK and being evaluated by doctors.
GettyDaniel Dubois’ fight with Joseph Parker is in jeopardy after the brit fell sick[/caption]
GettyThree replacements have been touted for Joseph Parker to take on[/caption]
And with organisers scrambling to ensure they still have an event to put on, reports claim that three fighters have already been eyed to step in for Dubois, should he pull out.
According to Ring Magazine, Parker could face one of Lawrence Okolie, David Adeleye or Mourad Aliev instead.
Okolie, 32, is set to fight Richard Riakporhe at Co-op Live in Manchester in April, but could still step into the ring in Riyadh this weekend.
London-born big-hitter David Adeleye is also scheduled to fight on the Manchester card, but is still thought to be available to cover for Dubois.
Undefeated Aliev, 29, last fought in December and is the only one that doesn’t have a fight already penned in his calendar.
However, the Frenchman has never fought outside of Europe before.
For now, it remains unconfirmed as to whether Dubois’ illness will stop the fight from going ahead.
And a source close to the camp told SunSport: “Nothing is confirmed yet.
Parker’s potential opponents
By Jack Figg
LAWRENCE OKOLIE
The 2016 Olympian held the WBO cruiserweight title for three fights and two years before moving up in weight.
Okolie then won the WBC bridgerweight belt – just below heavyweight – before joining the blue riband division.
The 6ft 5in powerhouse then packed on the pounds to 18st 6lb in his heavyweight debut to announce himself to his new-found rivals.
Okolie – recently signed to Frank Warren – is due to fight Richard Riakphore on April 5 and in camp training.
DAVID ADALEYE
The 6ft 4in Londoner was one of the most in-demand sparring partner for the top stars – including Tyson Fury.
And Fury once dubbed Adeleye the ‘future’ of the heavyweight division.
Adeleye went 12 fights unbeaten before losing to Fabio Wardley in October 2023 – but he bounced back with a vicious KO of Solomon Dacres in December.
He is also in training – for April 5 – to fight Jamie TKV.
MOURAD ALIEV
The Frenchman is the outsider with a 13-0 record – with all but three coming by KO.
As an amateur, he boxed in the Europeans and won silver before turning pro in 2021.
His last fight was in December.
PALawrence Okolie could replace Dubois[/caption]
PADavid Adeleye has also been touted to step up[/caption]
AFPFrance’s Mourad Aliev is another option[/caption]
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“But IF Daniel cannot fight, then it will be rearranged very quickly.”
Should Dubois be ruled out, that would mean no world title would be on the line for Parker who is attempting to become a two-time champion.
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The New Zealander won the WBO belt almost a decade ago before losing it to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.
Dubois showed no signs of illness during his media duties in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week, and even told the press that he is “ready to go”.
On Wednesday, he said: “I’m flying. I feel really confident, ready to go. The talking is done, it’s time to go to work.
“I’m expecting just war. I’m ready to fight. Whatever happens, I’m ready to go through him and put him to sleep. Just go for the next one. I’m hungry.”
SunSport understands that the earliest whispers of a Dubois problem arose on Thursday morning when a head cold was hinted at.
The stacked card in Saudi Arabia has already seen one pull-out.
Shakur Stevenson‘s opponent Floyd Schofield Jr backed out of his bout earlier in the week.
The 22-year-old failed to turn up to grand arrivals and has since officially withdrawn from the fight after being hospitalised with illness.
England’s part-time electrician Josh Padley has since flown in and will attempt a fairytale story as a huge underdog.
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