Daniel Dubois posted a short training clip on Instagram this week, showing off pad work and shadow boxing as he prepares for his next fight. The video was short and unspecific. No opponent has been named. No date was mentioned. The message is implied rather than stated.
Physically, Dubois looked as he always does. Strong. Heavy handed. Comfortable throwing power shots in combination. That part of his profile has never been in doubt. It wasn’t in doubt before his title win, and it wasn’t in doubt before his last loss.
The former IBF heavyweight champion is coming off a fifth-round knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch on July 19, 2025. The fight did not go to a decision. It didn’t depend on score. Dubois was injured and stopped, and the end was decisive.
A title shot against WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has been discussed as a possible next step, with the first quarter of 2026 mentioned as a potential window. If made, it would represent an immediate return to the top tier rather than a rebuilding move.
Wardley is a puncher looking for clean finishes. Taking that fight directly after a knockout loss is not a neutral choice. Training materials may suggest readiness, but they do not change risk. Another stop loss would quickly narrow Dubois’ options, and it would be a tough place to learn that lesson again.
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Last updated on 01/09/2026
