Parker v Fury '50-50'

The rising star who put Anthony Joshua on the canvas in sparring sees Joseph Parker's world title defence against Hughie Fury as a "50-50 fight".

Daniel Dubois is regarded as the next big thing in the buoyant British heavyweight boxing scene.

The 19-year-old has turned his back on a shot at the Tokyo Olympics to go professional and has cruised through his first four fights with consecutive knockout wins.

But it's in the sparring ring where he has also made his mark, knocking down Joshua while helping his fellow Brit prepare for his recent win over veteran Wladimir Klitschko to add the WBA belt to his IBF title.

Now Dubois has been helping Fury prepare for his clash with Parker where the Kiwi's WBO world heavyweight title will be on the line in Manchester on September 23.

Dubois has been suitably impressed by Fury's skills and believes it will be a highly competitive bout.

"It looks like a 50-50 fight to me," Dubois told Boxing News.

"The guy who wants it the most will win. They both carry their own advantages into the ring. Hughie with his speed and foot movement and Parker, he seems to be a strong guy and fights strong. We'll see. It should be a good fight."

Dubois said he couldn't pick a winner because he believed it was that close.

He felt he had got great value from sparring with Fury.

"It was good, he's quick, he's fast, he's very agile round the ring for a heavyweight. Taught me a lot. It's good experience for me," Dubois said of working with Fury who is the younger cousin of former world champion Tyson Fury.

Dubois is keen to collect as much experience as he can through sparring world class fighters as he makes his way in the professional ranks where he has already won the WBC World Youth Heavyweight title.

What happens in sparring is usually a closely guarded secret? But when word slipped out that Dubois had floored Joshua the youngster was fronted with repeated questions.

He reluctantly confirmed the deed but played it down.

"It let me know that I have power in both my hands, but other than that I take it for what it is - I learned from the experience," he told The Telegraph of putting Joshua on his backside.

"Sparring with Joshua was helpful in letting me know what I need to do as a man, and a fighter, and the lessons I need in boxing.

"There is still a long way to go, but I believe I will be number one in the world someday soon."

There has been talk that Dubois will be involved in the buildup to the likely rematch between Joshua and Klitschko and hasn't ruled out helping the veteran Ukrainian this time.

"If Klitschko called us up we'd go and spar with him. To go and get that experience and keep working with top-grade fighters is what it's all about," Dubois' trainer Martin Bowers told The Sun.

"Joshua or Klitschko? Whoever phones first, we go."

 

Photo: REUTERS Caption: Teenager Daniel Dubois is seen as the next biog thing in British boxing and has been adding to his reputation in successfully sparring with some of their stars.