‘He was upset’ – Daniel Dubois’ dad gives update on champion’s health after Joseph Parker fight withdrawal

Daniel Dubois' father Stanley has given an update on his health after he was taken ill on Joseph Parker fight week.

The British heavyweight was set to defend his IBF heavyweight world title against Parker, but he was taken ill on fight week forcing him to withdraw and was subsequently replaced by Martin Bakole.

Dubois was unable to compete and was flown home from the Middle East without throwing a punch, in a devastating late blow.

'Dynamite' has yet to speak out publicly on the illness which left him unable to box.

But his father Stanley has now broken the camp's silence on his condition in an interview on talkSPORT's White & Jordan.

He said in a new health update: "He's on the mend, his glands are still very swollen.

"And as a result, he has a fever and is very tired, so he is just going through that at the moment.

"It was the doctors that made the decision for him not to fight. Even though he felt well and wanted to do the fight.

"The doctors said he would do three rounds and get tired. Daniel wanted to fight, he was really upset.

"The journey home was a bit sad, I felt sad for the team. It's not a good feeling, it is out of your control really."

On his potential return he added: "That is down to Frank Warren really.

"We will have a sit down with him and see where we will go from there really.

"He will be back in the gym as soon as he has had a good rest. He needs a rest he's come out of a hard camp."

Dubois was unfortunate to have to bow out, with a win over Parker likely to have firmly set up an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

He will now have multiple options after the illness postponed the fight, which could still include an immediate clash with Usyk given he retained his title.

The Ukrainian champion himself has suggested he wants to rematch Dubois next, after their controversial fight in 2023, which saw the Briton left fuming after his shot was ruled a low blow.

But many believe Parker has earned a shot at Dubois' IBF belt on merit, given how he dispatched of late replacement Bakole with a brutal stoppage.

And former three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie believes Dubois first needs to face the New Zealander before accepting a meeting with Usyk.

"That's still going to be an attractive fight," he said.

"It should happen, obviously it didn't happen for the reasons that unfolded on fight week.

"But Dubois vs Parker should be the next one, unfortunately for Dubois he had to pull out.

"But he will be well again in due course, and they should rearrange that one and have it as the headline fight.

"In a nutshell it should be Parker, he's earned that, he's beaten Deontay Wilder and now the avoided Martin Bakole.

"They should ideally rearrange it, but from a business point of view I suppose it has to be Usyk as that is the money fight."