IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois told challenger Joseph Parker he was “having a great time” during an interview on DAZN’s Face Off ahead of next month’s Riyadh show on February 22 The co-feature match of the season features Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 cards.

Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) let the newly rejuvenated 33-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) know that his five-fight winning streak would be halted. Parker and his team made a big deal out of his recent wins over 41-year-old Zhang Zhilei and 39-year-old Deontay Wilder.

The win over Zhang was questionable as Parker went down twice in the fight and it looked like it should have been a defeat under the circumstances. After three fights with Tyson Fury, Wilder looks like a ruined boxer.

So it’s no surprise that Parker beat him, as he looked like a classic example of an old fighter who just can’t pull the trigger anymore. Wilder’s power is still there, but his reflexes are 100 percent gone.

On September 21, the 27-year-old Dubois defeated former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua with a career-best fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium in London.

Surprisingly, AJ didn’t even try to exact revenge with immediate rematches like he did after his losses to Alexander Usyk and Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s refusal to take part in a rematch suggests that he or his promoters don’t think he’s up to the task.

Is Du Bois too strong?

Daniel DuBois: “He’s been in top form the last few fights but he’s been having a good time,” the IBF heavyweight champion said. dazeen boxingto promote his title defense on February 22nd.

Joseph Parker: “I’m just getting started. My day is coming.”

DuBois: “Where’s Joe Joyce? What happened?”

Parker: “I’m sick. How’s Joe Joyce to you?”

DuBois: “It’s different.”

Parker: “He should have knocked me out in the first round. I was sick. I went 11 rounds.”

DuBois: “I’m going to step up. I’m going to be better than him in every aspect. Strength and speed.”

Coach Andy Lee: “We know what Daniel has. Hard jab, tremendous power and speed, kind of. He’s not as fast as Joe, he doesn’t have as good footwork as Joe. What Joe has is intelligence. He’s a smart fighter. That’s how we neutralize it. Deontay Wilder’s strength, that’s how we fight and outsmart Zhang, and what people underestimate is his added size, and you’re going to see that very quickly.”

Parker: “I’ve been quietly preparing for what’s coming, and now we have this guy.”

Dubois: “I’m ready to fight. It’s the same thing. It’s just a different day.”

Frank Warren: “None of them take it lightly. It’s all about confidence.”