While most seem to be calling for a rematch with Filip Hrgovic, David Haye believes Daniel Dubois’ toughest test lies elsewhere, against a heavyweight “everyone is avoiding.”
Dubois became a two-time world heavyweight champion in May, surviving two early knockdowns before dethroning Fabio Wardley with an 11th-round stoppage.
Then, in their immediate rematch earlier this month, the 29-year-old floored his man in the first 17 seconds and scored an emphatic second-round finish to retain his WBO title.
As for his next outing, ‘Dynamite’ has expressed his interest in a unification match with Hrgovic, who claimed his IBF title with a ninth-round stoppage of Moses Itauma in August.
Their first encounter, in June 2024, saw Dubois emerge with an eighth-round stoppage victory after Hrgovic suffered two horrendous cuts over his eyes.
Prior to that, the Croatian was having his fair share of success and, in a potential rematch, things could play out entirely differently.
In terms of Dubois’ toughest rival, though, former two-division world champion Haye has suggested Agit Kabayel, who will defend his WBC title against Nelson Hysa on November 28.
Speaking with talkSPORT, Haye said that, stylistically, Kabayel’s more fluid movement could pose serious problems for Dubois.
“[Dubois’] a physical specimen; he’s an absolute machine. [He’s] the perfect-sized heavyweight – he takes a dig; he’s a massive puncher.
“I’d like to see him loosen up a little bit; everything feels very forceful. [He should be] a little bit more like Lennox [Lewis] in the sense of opening people up with small shots, before throwing big ones.
“Against Kabayel, that style of just trying to force it won’t work. Kabayel’s very slippery – he turns [off at] angles, throws to the body … he does more of what [Oleksandr] Usyk can do, from the amateur schooling he’s had.
“That’s a very tough fight for Dubois. Agit Kabayel’s the one everyone’s avoiding.”
Kabayel claimed his WBC ‘interim’ title with a sixth-round stoppage of Zhilei Zhang in February 2025, before being elevated to full champion earlier this year.
