The British star is currently preparing for his next fight against Joseph Parker, but appears to be keen on facing a former boxing world champion inside the squared-circle
Daniel Dubois has expressed his interest in taking on former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Klitschko – who announced his retirement in 2017 following a defeat to Anthony Joshua – revealed he isn’t against the idea of a potential return to the ring. Back in November, the Daily Mail reported that the Ukrainian was open to a fight with Dubois for the IBF title after Joshua opted against an immediate rematch with ‘Triple D.’
Initial conversations were held about a potential fight, but talks were later rebuffed following Jake Paul’s heavyweight showdown with Mike Tyson. In a recent post uploaded to X – formerly known as Twitter – while Klitschko, 48, was open to fighting again, his sole focus is currently on defending his country from the ongoing invasion from Russia.
“There are a lot of rumours these days about a possible comeback,” he wrote. “At the moment, I’m not concerned with my return to boxing, but with the return of Russians to their country, outside Ukraine. And let me be clear: I’ve never stopped training. So IF there was to be a fight, I’d be ready on the spot. But this weekend I’m just going to see a fight with a talented Ukrainian [Oleksandr Usyk]. Go Usyk! Slava Ukraini!”
Despite initial discussions being abandoned, Dubois has revealed he would be interested in the fight should the opportunity present itself again. “They were talking about it but it has gone quiet now for a bit,” he told BoxNation.
“So I reckon he doesn’t fancy it anymore, having me on his case. Yeah [I would fight him], whoever wants it. Wladimir or whatever makes the most sense with the team. But yeah, Wladimir Klitschko, the legend Wladimir Klitschko, that would be something else, wouldn’t it?”
In the same interview, the Brit broke his silence after confronting Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian’s win over Tyson Fury last month. The Brit placed himself opposite the Ukrainian and delivered both a challenge and congratulations in a slightly awkward looking encounter. “I want my revenge,” said Dubois after taking the microphone from the interviewer. “I want my revenge Usyk! Well done tonight, well done. God bless. I want my revenge for the robbery last time. Let’s go, let’s go. Make it happen Frank!”
Usyk quickly asserted he was open to a rematch. He replied: “Your excellency, make the fight with Daniel Dubois. Thank you so much. I can do more. I’m ready to fight (Dubois), no problem. Next fight no problem. Now I want to go home and rest.”
Speaking about his post-fight antics in December, Dubois said: “This is boxing at the end of the day, any publicity is good publicity. If they hate it or they like it then yeah. I’ve been boxing long enough to understand that now. It’s not all about having everything your way and everyone love you, but as long as they want to see you that is all that matters.
“But at the end of the day, I want to get through Parker and then that fight [with Usyk] is done. It’s all about making noise, and as a world champion you can choose your destiny and path. I’m just challenging in my eyes and I want to become undisputed champion and that’s my intentions.” Despite wanting a rematch with Usyk, Dubois must first get through Joseph Parker on February 22 – with the pair set to co-headline a historic card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
