‘Doesn’t make sense’ – Joseph Parker has theory for Daniel Dubois’ last-minute withdrawal as Brit gears up to face Usyk

JOSEPH PARKER can’t help but feel the timing of his fight with Daniel Dubois falling through was a tad suspicious.

The resurgent New Zealander was set to challenge Triple D for the IBF heavyweight title on a stacked Saudi Arabia card in February.

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Joseph Parker was set to face Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title in February[/caption]

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But Dubois pulled out of their Saudi showdown just days before they were set to throw heavy leather[/caption]

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Parker can’t help but think Oleksandr Usyk’s callouts had something to do with Dubois’ withdrawal[/caption]

But his shot at becoming a two-time heavyweight champion was agonisingly ripped away from him just days before the Riyadh rumble as Dubois was struck down by a viral infection.

Dubois, 27, insists he pulled out of the desert dust-up on doctor’s orders.

Although Parker, who ended up fighting Martin Bakole, can’t help but think Oleksandr Usyk‘s calls for an undisputed straightener may have played a small role in the Brit’s withdrawal.

Speaking exclusively to SunSport thanks to Casino Hawks, the 33-year-old said of the fight falling through: “I was left in the dark.

“I guess you can’t really [doubt him]. I mean, you just got to take his word for it, you know.

“He wasn’t feeling the best and he pulled out of the fight.

“It just doesn’t make sense, though, that Usyk was calling him out all week and then he pulled out of the fight.

“And then now, they’ve made this big fight.”

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Dubois will challenge pound-for-pound king Usyk for all the heavyweight marbles in a historic unification bout at Wembley on July 19.

And although he still has his suspicions about Dubois’ pulling out, Parker won’t continue to beat a dead horse.

He continued: “If a man says he’s sick, he’s sick. I’ve just got to take him for his word.”

Parker is seemingly in pole position to face the winner of the July joust as he’s the mandatory challenger for the WBO strap he held for just under a year and a half.

But he’s refusing to count his chickens before they hatch, saying: “I know Frank Warren said a few things that I might be next to fight for undisputed unification.

“But there were no discussions. And for me, it’s just words at the moment.

“It’d be nice to get something in writing and to get something solid. But at the moment, it’s just words.

“If it can happen, I’ll be extremely over the moon.”

RICHARD PELHAM

Joseph Parker is in pole position to fight the winner of the July rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois[/caption]