Daniel Dubois will return to the ring in February as he looks to defend his International Boxing Federation heavyweight title for the second time, after dismantling Anthony Joshua at Wembley four months ago.

Dubois will hope for a convincing win in his battle with experienced New Zealander Joseph Parker, as the duo make up the co-main event on Riyadh Season’s “The Last Crescendo” card. The event is stacked with seven separate title bouts, including a Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch for the undisputed light heavyweight title in the night’s final contest.

Briton Dubois has his sights set on a rematch with WBO, WBC and IBC heavyweight title-holder Oleksandr Usyk should he secure victory in Riyadh, having previously called him out in the ring following the Ukrainian’s victory over Tyson Fury in December.

When is Dubois vs Parker?

The fight will take place on Saturday, Feb 22. The schedule for the ring walks is yet to be confirmed, but they are expected to start at around 10pm (GMT). Beterbiev and Bivol are expected to begin ring walks for their bout around an hour later at 11pm.

Where is Dubois vs Parker taking place?

The fight will be the latest major boxing event to be held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following Usyk vs Fury II last December. The card is part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season series, which also sponsored Dubois’ September bout against Joshua.

Speaking to Telegraph Sport last year, Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum described Saudi Arabia as the new Las Vegas for heavyweight boxing. Critics say that the kingdom’s obsession with funding and promoting elite sport is sportswashing. They have recently won the right to host the 2034 Football World Cup.

Where to watch Dubois vs Parker in the UK

Viewers in the UK can watch the event through DAZN pay-per-view, at a cost of £19.99 for the evening of boxing.

Is Dubois vs Parker on the radio?

It has not yet been announced where or whether UK listeners can follow the fight on the radio, however, talkSPORT has provided live coverage of Riyadh Season events previously.

What is the Dubois vs Parker undercard?

Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol

(for the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring light-heavyweight titles)
In the co-main event and final fight of the evening, Beterbiev and Bivol will clash in their anticipated rematch. Beterbiev won their fight in October, taking his opponent’s World Boxing Association title to unify the belts and become the undisputed world champion of the light-heavyweight division.

Both fighters went into that contest with perfect records, but it was Beterbiev who prevailed through a close majority decision from the judges, marking the first time that he has been taken the distance in his 21-fight career.

Bivol will be out for revenge having come so close, with their headline clash looking almost too tight to call this time around. Beterbiev holds a slight advantage with bookmakers.

Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker

(for the IBF heavyweight title)
Daniel Dubois struck at the opportune moment to dethrone Joshua, and skirt around a waning Fury, to arguably become the face of British heavyweight boxing. The next step on his journey comes in the form of New Zealander Parker, although Dubois’ antics in calling out heavyweight champion Usyk in the build-up to the fight would suggest the Briton views Parker as more of a speed bump on that journey than a serious test.

Parker will hope to spoil Dubois’ plans with a win and maintain the string of high-profile victories which have revived his career  in recent years. He has the pedigree and ability to give the very best a problem in the ring, as Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang recently found out.

Shakur Stevenson vs Floyd Schofield

(for the WBC lightweight title)
Shakur Stevenson will defend his World Boxing Council lightweight title against 22-year-old Floyd Schofield in an all-American bout in the last fight before the co-main events. Stevenson is one of the biggest faces in United States boxing, but his opponent is lesser known, having made himself available for the fight after Stevenson’s expected opponent, William Zepeda, suffered an arm injury.

Stevenson’s superior experience and profile has him as a strong favourite, but Schofield is unbeaten in his 18 bouts and is regarded as among US boxing’s brightest young stars. A shock win could propel the 22-year-old into the stratosphere.

Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz

(for the WBC middleweight title)
Briton Hamzah Sheeraz will take on Dominican Carlos Adames for his WBC middleweight title, with the challenger the odds-on favourite. Sheeraz, 25, boasts 17 knockouts in his 21 wins, having stopped four of his past five fights within two rounds, and is without a loss in his career so far.

Adames will be undeterred by Sheeraz’s ruthlessness, having lost only one of his 25 fights, and going unblemished for the past five years. The 30-year-old is in his prime and is well positioned to put up a fight against the up-and-coming challenger, but Sheeraz’s famously quick hands could prove too much for the title-holder.

Vergil Ortiz Jnr vs Israil Madrimov

(for the WBC interim super welterweight title)
American Vergil Ortiz Jnr will defend his WBC interim super welterweight title for the first time after defeating Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas last August. That contest was the first time Ortiz had been taken the distance, securing knockouts in all 21 of his other fights, making this bout one to watch for a potential show-stopper.

He will be challenged by Uzbek Israil Madrimov in his first fight since he lost his perfect record against US star Terence Crawford in August. Madrimov will face a big test of character in trying to regain his momentum after that setback with a win in Riyadh.

Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel

(for the WBC interim heavyweight title)
China’s Zhilei Zhang is looking to capitalise on his victory over Wilder last year as he takes on Agit Kabayel for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title. The 41-year-old suffered a defeat against headliner Parker last year, but his surprise fifth round TKO against Wilder in June put him back in contention to challenge at the top of the heavyweight division.

Kabayel is undefeated in his 25 career fights, and ended two perfect records in his past two appearances. However, the German is yet to fight anyone of Zhang’s calibre, making this bout a real test of his world-class credentials.

Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith

(for the WBO interim light heavyweight title)
Londoner Joshua Buatsi will defend his World Boxing Organisation interim light-heavyweight title against Callum Smith in the card’s only all British bout. Buatsi won the title last September against Willy Hutchinson on the undercard of Dubois’ victory over Joshua at Wembley, extending his perfect record to 19-0 in the process.

His challenger comes in the form of Liverpudlian Callum Smith, who has lost two of his past five bouts despite holding a perfect 27-0 record up to that point. Smith is Buatsi’s biggest challenge yet, and whoever wins will find themselves in prime position to challenge the winner of the co-main event in Beterbiev or Bivol.

How do Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker match up?

The match will be a test of Dubois’ maturity in the face of an in-form and far more experienced fighter, but his explosive power has proved too much for more polished opponents before.

Dubois is among the most powerful strikers in boxing and boasts 21 knockouts from his 22 career wins, but his proficiency in being aggressive and ending fights early has led to questions about his ability to keep up in later rounds. Both of his losses have come after the eighth round, giving him a 50 per cent win rate when he has been taken that deep into a contest.

This may suit Parker, who is less reliant on knockout power, and instead will likely look to measure Dubois early on and wear him down throughout the bout with technical combinations and distance management. If Parker can use his experience to get the best out of this clash of styles and frustrate Dubois through to the later rounds, he could upset the odds.

What are Dubois and Parker’s career records?

Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker

• Nationality: British v New Zealand

• Age: 27 v 33

• Height: 6ft 5in v 6ft 4in

• Reach: 78in v 76in

• Total fights: 24 v 38

• Record: 22-2 (21 KOs) v 35-3 (23 KOs)

What are the odds?

Dubois to win: 4/9
Parker to win: 9/4
Draw: 25/1

What people are saying about the fight

Daniel Dubois seems unconvinced by the threat Parker poses despite his form, claiming “he’s had his day”.

“I know he’s gonna come out and try and take my head off. This is war, I’m going to be 100 per cent ready for whatever they bring.” Dubois said on DAZN’s face-off. “I’ll put him to sleep, knock him out and move on. That’s my mindset. I’ll rise to the occasion whatever it is. I’ll be better than him in every department.”

Joseph Parker pulled no punches in his side of the face-off, backing himself to use his technical ability to negate Dubois’ explosive power.

“I possess the power to knock him out, I know I do. I can outbox him and outsmart him,” he said. “I’m going to be too smart, too fast. My movement is gonna be on point, I’m going to be deliberate, precise and aggressive.”

Eddie Hearn, boxing promoter and chairman of Matchroom sport, backs Parker to upset Dubois in Riyadh, pointing out the Briton’s lack of comfort in later rounds as a key vulnerability.

“Dubois used to have a threshold where he was asked questions, and it used to come after three or four rounds. Now, because of his confidence, that might come after seven, eight, nine rounds,” he told The New Zealand Herald. “You’ve got to take him there and then you’ve got to make Dubois question his heart. Joe is the kind of fighter to do that, so I think he wins.”

Derek Chisora, a heavyweight title challenger who lost two fights against Parker in 2021, thinks Dubois’ power and momentum will be too much for the New Zealander.

“My money is on Daniel. I believe he has got everything to stop Joseph Parker because he’s strong and he wants it more,” he told SecondsOut. “He’s on a roll right now. There is nothing that can stop him right now.”

Tony Bellew, former WBC Cruiserweight title-holder, whose last fight was a loss at the hands of heavyweight champion Usyk, gave Dubois the edge but refused to count Parker out.

“I find it hard backing against Daniel Dubois in that fight purely for the reason of, he’s younger, fresher, a point to prove,” Bellew told Fightlenstv. “He does have the big power, but then Joseph Parker takes a hell of a shot. He always gets back up.”