Daniel Dubois left ‘p***** off’ after IBF world heavyweight title defence is off
Daniel Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren says that the Greenwich fighter is “p***** off” that his IBF world heavyweight title defence is off.
The South Londoner was set to put his belt on the line against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
But news broke on Thursday that Dubois was unwell.
Parker will now face late replacement Martin Bakole on the show, which also features Croydon light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi.
Warren – asked about Dubois – told iFL TV: “He’s pissed off. It was a big fight. He has trained very hard and if you don’t fight then you don’t get paid.
“He is very, very disappointed. It was an unbelievable purse he was getting for the fight but we are where we are.
“If you’re not well you don’t fight. I always say to fighters: ‘I don’t want to hear after the event, if it goes wrong, that you have got a bad hand or this and that’.”
Parker told Sky Sports: “He did a sensible thing. If you’re sick, don’t fight.
“There’s no point going out there and fighting your heart out and you’re not in the right physical shape. Go out there and fight when you’re at peak – top shape, top condition, and put on your best performance. Put your best foot forward and the one that everyone will remember.”
PICTURE: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
