World champion Dubois to face Parker in Saudi Arabia

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Briton Daniel Dubois will defend his world heavyweight title against former champion Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on February 22.

Dubois, 27, made a spectacular first defense of his IBF title by defeating Anthony Joshua in September.

New Zealand’s Parker, 32, held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 before losing it to Joshua.

Also on the Riyadh card, Artur Beterbiev will defend his undisputed light-heavyweight title in a rematch with fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol.

Undefeated Londoner Hamzah Sheeraz will challenge for his first world title against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.

Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight belt against Floyd Schofield, while Zhilei Zhang will face Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight title, completing the blockbuster event.

Dubois claimed the interim title with a notable win over Filip Hrgovic last year and became world champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.

The Londoner confirmed his world champion status with a stunning upset, stopping two-time champion Joshua inside five rounds at Wembley Stadium.

Parker earned his title shot with a four-fight winning streak, including significant victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhang in his last two bouts.

In October, Beterbiev defeated Bivol by majority decision to become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion since 2002.

Many ringside observers felt Bivol, who suffered his first career loss, should have been awarded the win.

Ilford-born Sheeraz, 25, has won all 21 of his professional bouts, with 17 knockouts.

He withdrew from a scheduled fight against WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly to face Adames, who has one loss in 25 fights.