Dubois On Being Boxing's New Top Heavyweight

Daniel Dubois has emerged as a leading candidate for boxing's top heavyweight with Oleksandr Usyk likely stepping away from the division.

Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ argued that Dubois holds the clearest claim among active contenders, noting his ability to bounce back from defeats. "He bounces back from defeat exceptionally well, doesn't seem to let it bother him, and just goes back to work and returns better than he was before," Christ wrote. The comparison to Wladimir Klitschko — another heavyweight who absorbed early losses before dominating — suggests Dubois may be finding his groove at the right time.

Kabayel And Itauma Still In The Mix

Agit Kabayel presents the strongest alternative argument with wins over Zhilei Zhang and Frank Sanchez, though his resume remains thinner at the elite level. More intriguing is the case for Moses Itauma, who was sweeping two scorecards against Filip Hrgovic before gassing in the eighth round and suffering his first knockout loss. John Hansen noted Itauma had never fought past six rounds before that setback, and the 21-year-old's raw talent may still eclipse more seasoned contenders once he addresses his conditioning.

Dubois faces Fabio Wardley next in what Bad Left Hook described as an "I'm you, but stronger" matchup. The publication's Wil Esco remained skeptical of crowning Dubois outright, suggesting Tyson Fury or Kabayel could still beat him in the right circumstances. Patrick Stumberg pointed to Dubois' consistent activity against top opposition since his near-disaster against Kevin Lerena as the defining factor, calling him "the most exemplary of the top big men."

The Wardley fight will offer another data point, though the real tests — Kabayel, a potential Itauma rematch, or even a returning Fury — loom beyond that.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Around the Table: Is Daniel Dubois boxing’s new top heavyweight?