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'I'm the full package' - Daniel Dubois eyeing destructive era of heavyweight domination ahead of second IBF defence

Daniel Dubois returns to the ring on February 22 against Joseph Parker in the second defence of his IBF world heavyweight title; Dubois produced a sensational fifth-round stoppage of Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September but insists he possesses more than pure punch power

Jack Wilkinson

@jacktwilkinson

Wednesday 11 December 2024 22:26, UK

Daniel Dubois has labelled himself the "full package" capable of presiding over an era of destruction in the heavyweight division.

Dubois is preparing for the next defence of his IBF world title against resurgent former world champion Joseph Parker in Riyadh on February 22.

Dubois obliterated Anthony Joshua to retain the IBF belt at Wembley in September but insists his reign will not only be defined by his devasting punch power.

Asked if he wanted to be the Mike Tyson of this era of heavyweight boxing, Dubois exclusively told Sky Sports: "Do it in that sort of fashion, [yes]. I'm going to be me but do it in that destructive fashion.

"When I land and land correctly, they usually do fall. But I'm not going just off punch power. You need a lot more than that. You need skill, determination, heart and a whole variety of different things.

"I'm pretty much the full package of what I'm going to be right about now. I can't wait to get back in the mix… Let the whole circus start over again and let's get ready to rumble again.

"[It's] back-to-back big fights for me now. The first guy on my hitlist is Joseph Parker… I'm not overlooking him; I'm not underestimating him and I'm not overestimating him either.

"I'm just getting ready, ready to destroy. Destruct and destroy and do my thing."

Dubois beat Filip Hrgovic to become IBF interim champion in June and was upgraded to full world champion when confirmation of Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Tyson Fury forced the undisputed Ukrainian to vacate that belt.

The devastating stoppage of Joshua only underscored Dubois' credentials as a world champion and the 27-year-old believes we are now at the dawn of his era.

"You've got to put some respect on my name!" Dubois added. "I proved you wrong there, and I'm going to continue doing it. I'm the number one now.

"At the time I felt this [the Joshua victory] is massive. It's opened the door for me… I'm going to continue to reign as a champ.

"From a little kid when we started as a little boy, going to all the amateur clubs, with my dad taking me everywhere, doing all the work, now I'm at the top of the game. It's been a life's work."

As for what Dubois' brand of domination would look like, after a successful defence against Parker he aims to do precisely what has differentiated the best from the rest throughout history - fighting and beating the top fighters of his generation.

From avenging his defeat to Usyk to a first competitive bout against Fury, who he has previously sparred, an eager Dubois has his rivals in sight.

"They need to put me back in the ring with these guys," he said. "Let me get at them now, now I'm ready for them.

"Before I made a few mistakes, but I feel ready now to become the top dog, the top dog of the division."

On sparring Fury, Dubois continued: "I was still green back then, still getting into the game, now I'm world champion it's the right time for me to take on all these top guys.

"Mike Tyson did it, he fought all the best in his time, in his era. Muhammad Ali, all the great fighters did that for the glory and everything that goes along with it. The winner takes it all."