Most would have expected Daniel Dubois’ destructive five-round demolition over Anthony Joshua to inspire a degree of fear among his heavyweight counterparts.
But rather, it now seems as though the opposite could be said, as the newly-crowned IBF champion parades the land of the giants with a target on his back.
As it happens, several heavyweight contenders have already called out Dubois, with pulverizing puncher Zhilei Zhang being the latest to catapult his name into the mix.
But still, as a potential rematch with Joshua hangs in the balance, it is somewhat difficult to predict what Daniel Dubois’ next steps will be.
What does Zhilei Zhang really think of Daniel Dubois’ performance against Anthony Joshua?
Anthony Joshua was floored four times by Dubois before suffering his fourth defeat as a professional in front of his home fans at Wembley Stadium.
One fighter who had a particularly keen interest in the fight was Zhang, a Chinese southpaw who lost to Joshua at the London Olympics in 2012.
Zhang, however, now has his sights set on Dubois, heaping the 27-year-old with praise while also believing that he has the power to end his remarkable run of form.
“I never expected him to drop Joshua in the first round – that caught me off guard and was a little shocking,” Zhang told Boxing News.
“I could say that I saw the outcome before the fight but had no idea it would end in such devastating fashion.
“Those continuous wins will definitely boost [Dubois’] confidence to another level, and I can see him only getting stronger and stronger, better and better.
“However, if he faces the ‘Big Bang,’ it’s going to be a nightmare for him. If I meet him in the ring, I’m going to bang him.”
Will Daniel Dubois face Zhilei Zhang?
Following his upset win over Joshua, Dubois has rocketed up the Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings, sitting beneath Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in second place.
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Tyson Fury
- Daniel Dubois
- Joseph Parker
- Zhilei Zhang
And with Zhang occupying fourth place, it could be said that the heavyweight contender has a strong claim to challenge for Dubois’ IBF crown.
Regardless of what title is on the line, though, a clash between the two colossal sluggers would almost certainly deliver fireworks.
And yet, with Zhang coming off a defeat to Joseph Parker – albeit in a fiercely-contested matchup – one would assume that the 41-year-old has some rebuilding to do first.