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