Daniel Dubois’ trainer Don Charles insists he is ‘leaning towards’ a fight with Oleksandr Usyk over a rescheduled clash with Joseph Parker.
Dubois was set to defend his IBF heavyweight world title against Parker last weekend, but he withdrew on doctors’ advice after falling ill on fight week.
Many have called for the Briton to reschedule his title defence, which was voluntary, given Parker dispatched of late replacement Martin Bakole on the night.
But there is growing speculation that Dubois could instead step in an immediate undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk, a rematch of their 2023 encounter which saw the Briton stopped.
His coach Don Charles, insisted in an interview with talkSPORT.com, that he won’t be forced to fight Parker next, given he holds the belt and the bout isn’t mandatory.
He said: “My answer is, I will tell the fans, it was a voluntary defence not a mandatory one.
“Daniel doesn’t have to give Daniel that fight. But promoter Frank Warren knows best.
“He will present a few options on the table, and then we will chose our next fight.
“In the same way that we chose Joseph Parker, we weren’t forced to take that fight.”
On the potential rematch with Usyk, Charles insisted that Dubois’ camp is leaning towards it instead, after his fellow champion’s call-out.
“Yeah he dropped Usyk legitimately but they deemed it to be a low blow,” Charles continued.
“It would be great if they are able to engineer the fight and make it happen.
“And Usyk to his credit, he has come out recently and said he wants to fight Daniel Dubois.
“That is what we will probably lean towards. It is a no-brainer. It makes sense. There is history there.
“So we would be relishing the opportunity to have a second go at Usyk.”
Usyk himself has called for Dubois next, and was ringside at the recent card which was set to feature the Briton’s title defence.
The Ukrainian remains undefeated, and ‘Dynamite’ gave a good account of himself, so will back his own chances of securing undisputed glory.
Dubois dropped Usyk with a shot which was deemed to be a low blow, with the verdict being viewed as hugely controversial.
Stakes couldn’t be higher if the pair met later in 2025, with all of the heavyweight gold on the line, as well as bragging rights.
Charles admits it would be a real opportunity like no other to train Dubois to becoming just the second undisputed heavyweight champion in the 21st century.
He concluded: “As you say it, I’m smiling it from year to year. Trust me on this, we are already very determined.
“We would relish that opportunity to become great, once you’ve done that you really are great.
“These things are happen fast and furiously, fights that would normally take five years to make.
“It’s a brilliant time to be a boxer and a heavyweight especially in Daniel’s position.”
