Daniel Dubois is back in the gym and firing on all cylinders.
‘Triple D’ shocked the boxing world in September by knocking out Anthony Joshua in front of a packed-out Wembley Stadium to retain his IBF heavyweight title.
Dubois is back in the gym after his career-best display last time outCredit: X – Kieran Farrell
He is now expected to make a second defence of his red and gold strap on February 22 although it is presently unclear who that will come against.
It was initially thought Dubois and Joshua would rematch early next year, with talks said to be moving in a positive direction.
However, negotiations have since come to an abrupt halt over concerns February will be too quick of a turnaround for AJ, who is still nursing some ‘niggles’ from their inaugural encounter.
IBF president Daryl Peoples confirmed earlier this week that Dubois can make an optional defence against any ranked fighter before April 22.
And his promoter Frank Warren recently informed talkSPORT that they are talking to other potential opponents.
Fighters inside the IBF top 15 include Agit Kabayel, Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, Efe Ajagba, Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, Derek Chisora, Otto Wallin, Fabio Wardley, Jared Anderson, Guido Vianello and Justis Huni.
The No.1 and No.2 spots are currently vacant with No.3 ranked Kabayel and No.4 rated Bakole being the highest rated contenders.
Both men have been ordered to face each other in a final eliminator.
The IBF recently scheduled purse bids on November 5 to determine Dubois’ mandatory.
Regardless of who he steps into the ring with Dubois is staying ready and recently returned to the gym to get a session in with his coach Kieran Farrell.
Dubois dominated and KO’d Joshua, to the surprise of many in the boxing worldCredit: Getty
In a video uploaded to Farrell’s X account, Dubois can be seen hammering the pads with speed and precision.
Boxing fans flooded to the comment section to heap praise on the young champion with one insisting: “Those punches sound like bombs going off.”
Another wrote: “He’s improved so much it’s scary.”
A third posted: “He’s starting to enter the ring more loose as opposed to stiffness at a point in time he’s super dangerous right now.”
Meanwhile, somebody else tweeted: “Guy is a unit.”