Daniel Dubois Finally Gives His Version Of Events On Why He Pulled Out Of Parker Fight

Daniel Dubois has finally broken his silence after pulling out of his fight with Joseph Parker.

Dubois was set to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 22, but just a few days out from the contest, ‘DDD’ was forced to withdraw from the fight through illness.

It meant that Parker instead took on late replacement Martin Bakole, with the New Zealander stopping him inside two rounds, but it denied Dubois the chance to build on his good success following his destructive knockout win over Anthony Joshua last September.

Over a month on, Dubois has now spoken for the first time on the events that lead to him having to pull out of the fight, explaining to Podlounge UK how it all unfolded.

“On the Thursday and Friday I started getting ill. My glands swelled up and my throat went. I started getting fevers and I was drained and tired. I can’t put it into words.

“The doctor came to look at us, we called the British Boxing Board of Control doctor. I wanted to fight, I still wanted to carry on and fight but the doctor came and looked at me and spoke to Frank. He checked me out and examined me and said he wouldn’t advise me to fight.

“He said in two days you’ll be a lot worse. He said he wouldn’t advise me to fight. I listened to the advice of the doctor, my dad and my team. They advised me not to go. I wanted to fight, I really wanted to go out there and put him to sleep, but sh*t happens.

“I was 100% focused on that fight. I wanted to go out there and put him to sleep. We had the British Board of Control. You can ask them and their doctor and get the proof from them. That’s what happened. I’m not making any of this up.”

It is currently unknown what move Dubois will make next, but he could be forced to make a mandatory defence against Derek Chisora after the IBF announced plans to call for that fight.