Daniel Dubois scored an authoritative victory in his rematch with Fabio Wardley last weekend and former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson has admitted that the performance has convinced him that Dubois beats all bar one of his heavyweight rivals.
Five months after a gruelling initial encounter, Dubois and Wardley went toe-to-toe for a second time, but ‘Triple D’ wasted no time securing another win, halting his fellow Briton inside just two rounds of a dominant showing at the O2 Arena.
During the aftermath, unifications were at the top of the agenda for Dubois and promoter Frank Warren, with both Filip Hrgovic (IBF) and Agit Kabayel (WBC) being discussed as potential dance partners for 2027.
Speaking with talkSPORT Boxing, Nelson praised Dubois’ efforts and admitted that he fancies him to defeat all of his fellow heavyweight world champions, but not Oleksandr Usyk – who he has twice lost to.
“That version of Daniel Dubois, yes he can [beat all of his fellow world champions]. That mindset, attitude, hunger, self-belief, everything.
“I saw him say that he wants Moses Itauma now. I don’t think that he is scared of any man and out of any fighter that is there, that [version of] Daniel beats them all, except for Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk has got his number.”
Dubois has called for a trilogy fight with Usyk, believing he can right the wrongs of their previous encounters. The Ukrainian is unlikely to take him up on it.
Nelson then went on to heap further praise onto Dubois, revealing that the WBO titleholder reminds him of former undisputed heavyweight king Sonny Liston.
“This young man reminds me of Sonny Liston. If you are old enough and you remember, Sonny Liston was horrible [to fight]. His jab was like being hit by a cannon, his ferocity, he was the original Mike Tyson!”
‘Triple D’ is expected to return to action in February 2027, where a clash with either Kabayel or Joseph Parker could take place.
