Daniel Dubois loses £7 million due to illness

Daniel Dubois faced financial losses after his scheduled fight with Joseph Parker fell through. Dubois was supposed to defend his IBF heavyweight title on February 22 but became ill just days before the bout and withdrew on doctor's advice. As a result, Parker fought Martin Bakole instead and won in two rounds. Dubois was expected to earn a career-high £7 million for the match but received nothing. His trainer, Don Charles, stated that Dubois incurred significant expenses during training, including costs for sparring partners and accommodations. Charles explained that when a fight is canceled, the fighter does not get paid, leading to financial losses. Now, Dubois is uncertain about his next steps. He is eyeing a rematch with WBA, WBO, and WBC champion Oleksandr Usyk, who previously defeated him in 2023. However, the WBO has mandated that Usyk must first face Parker, the interim champion. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri mentioned that Dubois or Parker could request an exception to allow the unification match to happen first. But, he noted that such a request has not yet been submitted. The situation remains unclear as Dubois waits for further developments.