Daniel Dubois is making a strong case for himself as one of the premier heavyweights in the world. After suffering a loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2023, which marked the second defeat of his career, Dubois bounced back impressively. He secured victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, earning the IBF Interim World Champion title. Following Usyk’s decision to vacate the belt, Dubois was elevated to Full Champion status.

His first title defense took place in front of a massive crowd of over 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, where he faced heavy favorite Anthony Joshua. From the opening bell, Dubois demonstrated his dominance, knocking Joshua down three times and ultimately stopping him in the fifth round. This decisive victory has solidified his claim as a legitimate world champion.

With his status now firmly established, Dubois faces a wealth of options for his next fight. A rematch with Joshua is a possibility, as is a shot at the winner of the upcoming rematch between Usyk and Tyson Fury. He also has to consider challenges from in-form contenders like Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang, both of whom are eager for a title opportunity.

Among the potential opponents generating significant fan interest is Martin Bakole, a hard-hitting contender fresh off a career-best victory against American rising star Jared Anderson. Bakole has previously claimed that he seriously injured Dubois during sparring sessions, stating, “I broke his nose twice and stopped him. That’s not a lie because he will never come out and say I’m lying.”

In response to a social media inquiry about predictions for a potential matchup, Bakole expressed confidence, asserting, “[I will] school him for the third time.”

As of the latest updates, Bakole is ranked number five with the IBF and is expected to appear on another Riyadh Season card soon, where he has also called for a fight against Zhilei Zhang. With numerous intriguing options on the table, Daniel Dubois is well-positioned to continue his ascent in the heavyweight division.