LONDON — Fresh off a clinical and destructive performance to retain his WBO heavyweight championship, Daniel Dubois has turned his attention toward the ultimate pinnacle of the division. The Londoner is actively setting the stage for a prospective "ground-breaking" mega-fight against Tyson Fury, targeting a explosive all-British unification clash proposed for 2027.
Dubois emphatically reaffirmed his position at the elite level of heavyweight boxing on Saturday night, sweeping through Fabio Wardley in just two rounds of their highly anticipated rematch. By making extraordinarily quick work of Wardley to defend his WBO belt, Dubois sustained virtually no damage, clearing a direct path toward the most lucrative and historic matchups available in world boxing.
While Dubois has firmly established his own championship standing, the potential for a titanic showdown against Fury heavily depends on the outcome of another monumental domestic encounter scheduled for later this year. Fury is set to enter the ring on December 11 for an all-British super-fight against former two-time champion Anthony Joshua.
The stakes for the December 11 contest could not be higher. If Fury overcomes Joshua, he will claim the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title. That outcome would immediately set up an incredible opportunity for a full heavyweight division unification battle between Fury and Dubois, a fight that Dubois insists he would relish above all others.
Speaking directly to Sky Sports in the wake of his victory over Wardley, Dubois made no secret of his desire to share the ring with Fury in what would be one of the largest sporting events in British history.
"Definitely. That’ll be ground-breaking. That’ll be the next level for me," Dubois declared when asked about the possibility of facing Fury.
For Dubois, a showdown with Fury would represent the culmination of an extraordinary run against the modern era’s most dominant heavyweights. Having already tested himself against the top tier of the division, the WBO titlist views Fury as the final remaining titan of his generation to conquer.
"I’ve fought everyone then really from this era. I’ve fought them all. Fury’s the last one," Dubois explained.
The logistics of making such a massive domestic fight are significantly simplified by the promotional landscape. Both Dubois and Fury are represented by veteran hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren. The shared alignment under the Queensberry Promotions banner eliminates many of the complex promotional hurdles that typically delay or derail major unification negotiations in modern boxing.
Dubois is confident that both Fury and their shared promoter will share his enthusiasm for making the fight a reality once the December fixtures play out.
"Fury’s a fighting man, I’m sure he would want it. Let’s see how he does with AJ. Let’s see. I’m sure Frank would love to make that fight," Dubois said.
Dubois is no stranger to the magnitude of stadium boxing. The powerhouse heavyweights of this era have routinely drawn record-breaking crowds, and Dubois himself has twice headlined at the iconic Wembley Stadium in massive events against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. A prospective collision between Fury and Dubois would easily carry the promotional gravitas and public demand to sell out any stadium in the world.
Reflecting on the sheer scale and intensity of competing at the sport’s highest summit, Dubois reflected on the rare environment he now comfortably inhabits.
"This is what boxing is. This is the highest level really, this is it at the highest level. This is what it looks like," Dubois remarked.
Although a professional fight between Dubois and Fury would be a mega-event of unprecedented proportions, the two fighters share a surprisingly long history that predates Dubois’ championship reign. The pair previously shared the ring for a series of sparring sessions several years ago when Dubois was just launching his career in the paid ranks.
Dubois fondly recalled those early encounters, which took place when he traveled to train with Fury’s family members before Tyson himself unexpectedly joined the session.
"That was just when I was turning pro," Dubois remembered. "I went to spar his cousin Hughie and then he popped in for a few rounds. Great memories, great work."
At the time of those sparring sessions, Fury was in the midst of preparing for his high-profile return to professional boxing after a prolonged period of inactivity away from the sport, during which his weight had ballooned substantially.
Dubois recalled the physical sight of Fury during that specific phase of his comeback, reflecting with humor on how the heavyweight veteran maintained his signature, slick movement despite his immense frame.
"So he was massive then," Dubois said with a laugh, before adding: "He was elusive."
Since those early developmental days, Dubois’ professional journey has been defined by rapid ascension, resilience, and high-stakes championship battles. Although he ultimately fell short in his previous attempt to claim undisputed glory in a fiercely contested bout against pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk, Dubois has used that experience to fuel his current momentum. Rather than dampening his ambition, the Usyk loss has only intensified his resolve to conquer the entire division and claim every belt available.
"To win all the belts. That’s the main thing now for me, collecting all the other belts," Dubois stated. "It would mean everything to have all those belts. No one can take that away from me. That’s what I’m after now."
For Dubois, the pursuit of total heavyweight unification is about far more than individual title defenses. It is about etching his name into the permanent tapestry of boxing history alongside the legendary champions who came before him.
"Amongst all the names of history, not just that, for myself and what’s left to achieve in boxing as well," he emphasized.
What next?
While a prospective 2027 blockbuster against Tyson Fury stands as the ultimate long-term destination, Dubois has no intention of sitting idly on the sidelines waiting for the heavyweight landscape to settle. Having spent just six minutes inside the ring during his two-round blitz of Fabio Wardley on Saturday, the WBO champion emerged completely unblemished and physically fresh.
Consequently, Dubois is urging his promotional team to secure his next fight as quickly as possible, expressing a desire to maintain an intense schedule while he is in peak physical condition.
"Soon, really soon. I want to be out soon, as soon as possible. Whenever the belts are ready, whenever the top challengers are ready, that’s what I want. I want to fight," Dubois declared.
In terms of immediate options for his next title defense or potential unification stepping stone, two prominent names have surfaced at the top of Dubois’ wishlist: WBC champion Agit Kabayel and IBF belt-holder Filip Hrgovic.
Dubois already shares a competitive history with Hrgovic, having defeated the formidable Croatian in a previous high-stakes matchup. Hrgovic was seated ringside on Saturday night to watch Dubois dismantle Wardley firsthand, naturally sparking speculation that a mandatory defense or high-profile rematch could be arranged in the near future.
"Any one of them [next], Hrgovic, he was there on Saturday, maybe him or Kabayel," Dubois noted when assessing his immediate landscape. "Hrgovic was tough as well, Kabayel, we’ll see, we’ll see what he’s about. He ain’t been in with a guy like me but he’s a good fighter."
Ultimately, Dubois remains indifferent to specific names, provided the matchup brings him one step closer to accumulating all the physical hardware in the heavyweight division.
"Just anyone with a damn belt… Anyone who wants it," Dubois concluded.
