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    Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker - Eddie Hearn makes shock prediction for heavyweight clash

    Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker - Eddie Hearn makes shock prediction for heavyweight clashDAZN
    Watch Opetaia vs. Nyika January 8 live on DAZN
    Watch Opetaia vs. Nyika January 8 live on DAZN

    Eddie Hearn has given his backing to Jospeh Parker as the popular New Zealander looks to become a two-time world champion next month. 

    Parker faces Daniel Dubois on Feb 22, live on DAZN , and victory will see him take the IBF crown from the heavy-handed British fighter who is enjoying an excellent run of form. 

    In 2022, it appeared that Parker’s world title hopes were over when he was sensationally stopped by Joe Joyce, but he’s rebounded brilliantly to put himself back in the belt picture. 

    Wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang have placed Parker at the business end of the division and another impressive outing over Dubois could put him close to the top. 

    In Dubois, Parker will be opposed by a menacing fighter who has blitzed his way past Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua in the last 14 months.   

    Jai Opetaia v David Nyika

    Dubois’ win over Joshua was one of the standout performances of 2024 as he dropped his British rival four times before securing a fifth-round victory. 

    Parker goes into the fight a bug underdog, but Hearn, who has promoted Parker in the past on several occasions, is backing him to cause an upset. 

    “I think Joe Parker wins. I really do. I’m a big Joe Parker fan. He’s a mate of mine. I’m kind of his unofficial promoter,” said Hearn when speaking to the New Zealand Herald . 

    “For Dubois everyone is talking about Usyk or the AJ rematch. Joe does all the things you need to be able to do to beat Dubois, which is take him deep, work-rate, have a good chin, keep landing, keep chipping away. 

    “Dubois used to have a threshold where he was asked questions, and it used to come after three or four rounds. Now because of his confidence that might come after seven, eight, nine rounds. You’ve got to take him there and then you’ve got to make Dubois question his heart. Joe is the kind of fighter to do that, so I think he wins.”

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