Dubois’ clash with Parker headlines a stacked boxing lineup with a Beterbiev-Bivol rematch in the co-main event in Riyadh.

International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois will defend his title against Joseph Parker on February 22 in Riyadh, event organizers in Saudi Arabia have confirmed.

The fight, announced Tuesday, will be the co-main event of the undisputed light heavyweight world title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in a seven-fight card announced by Turki Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority .

Dubois, who received the belt in June after Ukraine’s then-undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished it, made his first successful defense against fellow Briton Anthony Joshua on September 21.

The 27-year-old Londoner will face New Zealander Parker, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight champion, in a bid to retain the title and improve his heavyweight championship pedigree.

The fight is part of Riyadh’s season event titled The Last Crescendo, headlined by a rematch between Canadian-Russian fighter Beterbiev and Russian boxer Bivol for the light heavyweight world title.

Beterbiev defeated Bivol by majority decision in October.

Alalshikh called fight night in the Saudi capital “one of the biggest cards of all time” in his X announcement.

One of the most beautiful cards of all time on February 22 in Riyadh #BigTime#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/4jQEowMXvD

– TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 2, 2024

Dubois, who stands 1.96 m (six feet five inches) tall, has an impressive professional record with 22 victories in 24 fights.

In a burst of defiance after beating his most famous opponent Joshua at Wembley Stadium, Dubois reacted to the pro-Joshua crowd by yelling: “Aren’t you amused?” »

“I’m a gladiator,” he said. “I am a warrior to the end. I want to go to the highest level of this game and reach my full potential. Behind the scenes, I worked hard, with all my family and my team. They all helped me.

“I won’t stop until I reach my full potential.”

Immediately after the fight, Parker called out Dubois to challenge him. Parker, who has won his last four fights, suggested facing Dubois, with the winner then facing the winner of Usyk vs. Fury for the undisputed title.

Usyk vacated the IBF title just five weeks after becoming the first fighter to unify the belts in nearly 25 years. Usyk will face Tyson Fury, whom he beat in a split decision on May 18, in a rematch for the WBA, WBO and WBC belts on December 21 in Riyadh.

The main event of fight night on February 22 will see fierce rivals Beterbiev and Bivol face off after four months.

Their final fight saw two ringside judges score the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Beterbiev, while the third called it a tie at 114-114.

Both men were undefeated heading into the October fight, with Bivol holding the WBA belt and Beterbiev the reigning WBC, WBO and IBF champion.

The last undisputed light heavyweight champion was American Roy Jones Jr, who defeated Reggie Johnson to unify the WBA, WBC and IBF belts in 1999.