Thoughts on the possible Dubois & Kabayel fight?

Duke Mckenzie said he'd like for Dubois to have a rebuild fight against Frazer Clarke. There were rumours about Dubois being up for the Frank Sanchez scrap, and that would be a good fight before any talks about Kabayel.

 

I'd back Kabayel to dismantle Dubois in 8 rounds, Kabayel has the 2nd best 1Q in the division after Usyk and would break him down imo,. This would be a bad stylistic match up for Dubois, Dubois should go after Wardley.

 

I don't follow you...

If Kabayel isn't capable of beating Dubois, does he deserve a shot at Usyk?

Does hiding away targeting fights with D level guys like Hysa to protect his shot make him more deserving or less?


I can see Dubois against Kabayel playing out several ways - it's possible Kabayel gets Dubois to quit.
It's also possible that Dubois being much less static than Zhang and Makh, a level or two above Sanchez simply wouldn't be as easy to get to... And DDD packs power of his own.


Who wouldn't want to see a good fight between guys who appear to be on roughly the same level and could go either way?

 

Of the two, I'd think it's more likely to be Kabayel that gives it a swerve...

Dubois has taken some unwise fights before (and Warren obvs either responsible or didn't stop him) - the Joyce fight was way too soon, as was the first Usyk bout... Didn't stop them taking those fights and risking losing - and Dubois doesn't seem to suffer a major dip or complete head**** in the way some guys do after losing (looking at AJ, Fury, Wilder, etc).

Kabayel on the other hand isn't afraid to settle back after a career best win and wait for opportunities to come to him... And choosing ****ing Hysa shows a complete lack of ambition (regardless of the fact it's fallen through).

There's good reasons both might decide it's not a good time - and in some ways sensible reasons, too... But which is more likely to actually make the swerve?

 

My personal assumption is that dubois on the usyk2 fight was not very motivated to fight at all and did not performed with everything he is basicly capable off . Why ? i do not know .

When kabayel meets dubois i assume he will give everything he has and that might give kabayel a tough night .

Not sure if kabayel should risk that much for nothing .
Generally we enter a situation where the best contenders in artificial eliminator fights wear out each other while usyk is laughing and sitting on the belts instead of entering the ring himself and defend the belts ...

Parker already threw his shot away for nothing and its far from confirmed that usyk is willing to face wardley or kabayel at all ...

 

I would expect so, yes.

But even if he gave Usyk almost everything... I'd expect him to be a much tougher night for Kabayel than he was for Usyk.

My problem is this idea that it's for nothing - it's for the good of the sport, it's for the fighter to prove something, to raise profile, to be tested and improve themselves, etc.

The idea that everything is about maintaining position for minimum risk is a black mark on the sport, for me.

Parker had balls taking on an up and coming fighter who looked like they had potential.

He was dumb fighting the way he did, but he has far more honour than someone sitting on their ranking and aiming to fight a D level bumfighter.

 

If this fight happens, then it will be Usyk vs Dubois 3 next.

 

So, basically you're saying if Dubois performed with everything he's capable of, he would beat Usyk?

 

Where is the Dubois pre fight party going to be at?

 

I fully agree with you but that also includes usyk !

Parker never was in need for a final eliminator fight but usyk had to defend the wbo belt against him . Thats of course history.

Kabayel also is not in need for a final eliminator fight against dubois but usyk should defend his wbc belt against him .

Its usyk who asks for extensions to even negotiate a belt defence

 

Maybe not beat usyk , but he would be a lot more risk and work for usyk , with the risk of a punchers chance of a hurting hit to the body or similar .

In no way i buy that dubois , with the chance of his life , joins a party three hours before his own undisputed fight , and comes late to his own undisputed fight when he was focused to give everything he has , trying to win the fight .

 

I think it's a shame he's not fighting more often, and the orgs should be pushing it if he's able but unwilling...

Equally, he's so far clear of the rest that he doesn't really need to prove he deserves to keep that position...

I'd prefer it if he did fight, and I enjoy watching him fight, but he's already reached final boss status... Kabayel and Dubois haven't, and even Parker hadn't.

Of course, but for whatever reason Usyk wasn't able to take it immediately - and instead of sitting around going stagnant, Parker did what top fighters are supposed to do and took a fight that was difficult, even if he was heavily favoured to win.

Like Parker, Kabayel is in need of a fight to keep himself busy.

Completely fine, when the champs unavailable and you're not immediately in line, you have to find something else to do.

But istead of picking a B+ level fighter again, or even another C level overhyped mediocrity, he went and chased a D level fighter... That's a poor show.

Parker showed guts, self belief and honour for the sport by picking an underproven but talented fighter in Wardley - Kabayel showed, comparatively, cowardice by running back to Germany to face Hysa who has done absolutely nothing of note.


You can say it's dumb to risk position by taking a good fight... But ultimately this is a combat sport, not ****ing world level chess... It should be all about guts and glory, being a warrior - not about being a politician, counting numbers with your favourite org to maintain a mandatory position for minimum possible risk.

 

I would like to see Kabayel - Itauma, but there ain't no way team Warren would risk their golden goose to get exposed this early. Dubois could fight Sanchez as a tough rebuild fight, and a rematch between Parker and Wardley would be fine too.

But who does Usyk fight then except Belly?

Dubois - Kabayel would be the most fan-friendly fight as their next clash, but I'm thinking of Sanchez in case Dubois' ego is cracked after the Usyk defeat.

 

I'd love to see Kabayel V Dubois, but I'd be very surprised if we saw that fight in 2026. Kabayel will probably have sh*t himself watching Parker lose his guaranteed title shot, on top of only seemingly being interested in very weak gatekeepers and soft touches from Hysa to Yoka.

If the fight were to happen... a lot of people will say Kabayel due to Dubois's lack of heart, but Kabayel is a big uppercut away from a KO and I think Dubois will actually overpower Kabayel and get him out of there and early, like Itauma - Dubois is very dangerous in the early rounds especially against someone that is hittable and can be dropped. However, if it goes long and Kabayel survives the early onslaught, theres only one winner and Dubois will be wincing to his body in pain.

 

I'm an ideal world maybe but boxers have to be smart and treat the sport more like a business
One punch ends a career

I agree with your sentiment but find you overly harsh at times on some fighters