Dubois targets 2027 unification fight with Fury

Daniel Dubois would relish a unification fight with Tyson Fury if Fury beats Anthony Joshua: victory would earn Fury the WBA ‘super’ title. Fury first has to face Joshua in their all-British super-fight, scheduled for December. Dubois, meanwhile, is targeting a 2027 showdown with Fury, a prospect he considers a defining next step in his career.

The WBO heavyweight champion has just defended his belt by beating Fabio Wardley in two rounds of their rematch. A potential bout with Fury fits into a wider ambition: Dubois wants to collect the heavyweight division’s titles. After falling short in his undisputed championship fight with Usyk, he remains determined to reach the summit of the division.

The proposed fight would also carry considerable significance for both Britons. Dubois has headlined twice at Wembley, against Anthony Joshua and then Oleksandr Usyk, and believes a contest with Fury could fill any stadium. The pair also share a past, although Dubois recalled a memory from his early days in boxing: when he was turning professional, he went to train with Hughie, Fury’s cousin. Fury dropped in for a few rounds. “Great memories, great work,” Dubois recalled.

The Briton made no secret of his enthusiasm for the prospect. “Definitely. That’ll be ground-breaking. That’ll be the next level for me,” he said. He regards Fury as the last major name from this era he has yet to face: “I’ve really fought everyone from this era. I’ve fought them all. Fury’s the last one.” He also described the potential contest as “boxing at the highest level”.

Dubois thinks Fury could want the fight too, but stressed that the Joshua bout comes first. “Fury’s a fighting man, I’m sure he would want it. Let’s see how he does with AJ. […] I’m sure Frank [Warren] would love to make that fight,” he said. Dubois recalled Fury returning to boxing after gaining a lot of weight, joking about his size and his ability to evade him.

While the possibility of a Fury fight remains dependent on what happens next, Dubois wants to box again “soon, really soon” and take on the leading challengers available. He hopes to face WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel or IBF belt-holder Filip Hrgovic, whom he has beaten before. “Hrgovic was tough as well. Kabayel, we’ll see […] He ain’t been in with a guy like me but he’s a good fighter,” he said. Dubois says his aim is to win every belt: “To have all those belts would mean everything. No one could take them away from me.” He is also ready to face “anyone with a belt”.