Dubois And Parker’s Mindset Ahead Of IBF Clash – ‘I’m Leaving With My Belt’
Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker gave an insight into their mindset as they prepare for their IBF Heavyweight Title clash this weekend.
Dubois makes the second defense of his IBF Heavyweight Title, a belt he inherited after Oleksandr Usyk vacated once he defeated Tyson Fury. Dubois justified his credentials as a heavyweight champion by knocking out Anthony Joshua in his last fight, dropping the former unified heavyweight champion numerous times. That win was preceded by big victories against Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, which made Dubois one of the leading heavyweights in the division. Parker is also on a great run of form. He secured two of his best wins by defeating Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in his last fights, respectively.
Parker is the former WBO Heavyweight Champion, a title he lost against Anthony Joshua. But he knows what it takes to get over the line in a world title fight, meaning it sets up a huge spectacle for the fan base. The winner gets in a position to face Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed Heavyweight Title. Here is an insight into what both fighters had to say ahead of their clash, as they felt confident about the prospects of victory.
Dubois’ Mindset
“You know, the people want to be entertained, and I’m ready. Let’s go. It’s on. Now, when you’re in camp and you’re just training week in week out, you can lose it. It doesn’t feel the same. But now we’re here. It’s locked in.
“However good he is, I’m gonna be better. I’m gonna be better. I can’t let him take mine. You’re gonna have to, you know, I’m leaving with my belt. That’s my whole objective, my mindset.
“It’s what we’re in the business for, it’s good, you know? [And] It’s good to be wanting people to fight you. Because before it’s, if it’s hard to get fights when you’re a puncher and everything. So, you know, I’ve got the belt now, ready to defend that.
“I love the progress and where we’re going. Yeah, it’s just, feels like it’s just, you know, the tunnel, you know, this is where you gotta go, and these are the guys I gotta beat. And, yeah, I’m really excited, you know to put on a clinical performance,” Dubois
Parker’s Mindset
“My goal in life back then was to become champion of the world, and that was it. I wasn’t thinking about other ballots or being undisputed. The fighter I am now, or the person or the father, husband, whatever is way different now. I respect the position I’m in way more, and I actually love what I do every day now. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of questions why I wasn’t getting the results I was looking for. And all of that has led to this point.
“You say that it’s tough, but, you know, I’m ready to fight. I didn’t pick him to win any of the last two fights. I didn’t think he was gonna win those fights.
“When you know you’ve done everything there is, and you can’t do anything more to prepare mentally, I’m just like, I’m ready to go on there. Leave it all out there, and the result will take care of itself.
“This is the biggest fight in my career. It’s the opportunity to fight for the championship of the world again. But also because of the opponent that I have and the way that he’s performed. That’s why I say this is the toughest fight. The Joseph Parker of 2016 winning the championship of the world, there was no real goal of fighting for more belts, or for being undisputed,” Parker
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