The heavyweight division is livelier than ever says Frank Warren

Frank Warren is brimming with excitement about the current state of the heavyweight division. To him, it’s more alive than it’s been in years, and he’s quick to point to one man in particular who’s shaken things up: Daniel Dubois.

Dubois just scored a career-defining victory, knocking out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round - a result that has boxing fans talking and critics scrambling to reassess. The image of Joshua crumbling under Dubois’ punches is burned into everyone’s memory, stirring all kinds of questions about Joshua’s future and whether his time at the top is over.

For Warren, though, it’s clear what Dubois’ knockout means for the heavyweight landscape. “He’s shown what he’s all about,” Warren says. “He gritted his teeth in that fight. He gritted his teeth in the two fights previous to that when he was an underdog in each of them.” Dubois took down Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and now Joshua - three ranked fighters in less than a year. That’s no small feat.

Warren’s not just talking about Dubois. He believes the whole heavyweight division is firing on all cylinders. A year ago, people were starting to doubt its future, especially after Oleksandr Usyk came up from cruiserweight and dismantled a string of big names to become the undisputed champion. Wilder, Fury, Joshua - they all took losses. There was a lull in the excitement. But now, things are different. With fighters like Dubois crashing the party and Tyson Fury set for a rematch with Usyk in December, the division is teeming with possibilities again.

“He doesn’t have a rematch in his contract,” Warren notes about Dubois and Joshua. “There is one in AJ’s contract, but I haven’t got a problem with a rematch if they want to do it. If the terms are all okay, we’ll sit down and talk about it. But it’s all too soon to say who he’s going to be fighting next.”

Warren’s cautious about rushing Dubois into another fight right away. He wants the 27-year-old to take a breath and enjoy the moment. And why not? He’s just gone from being written off by some after a tough loss to Joe Joyce in 2020 to becoming one of the hottest names in the division. Back then, Dubois’ eye injury and Joyce’s relentless jab had people doubting his toughness. But now, after a string of wins, including this one against Joshua, he’s proved the doubters wrong.

Of course, Dubois’ win throws a wrench into the plans for a potential showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury. The heavyweight division has always had its own way of doing things - though the IBF tries to keep some order. But with Fury and Usyk meeting in December, the future is still up in the air. A Fury victory could set up a third fight with Usyk or even a bout with Dubois for the undisputed title. If Usyk wins again, there’s still a chance we could see Fury and Joshua finally face off, title or no title.

Warren, for his part, is keeping an open mind. “I don’t know. I think people may still buy it. If he [Joshua] comes back and has a win, who knows?” But for now, all eyes are on Fury’s rematch with Usyk. Warren admits it’s a tough fight, but he’s confident. “I fancy him to come through it.”

Whatever happens, Warren sees a heavyweight division that’s as dynamic as ever. “This division at the moment is alive. Losers fighting losers, winners fighting winners. There’s such a combination of great fights. The heavyweight division has never been so lively,” he says, crediting much of the resurgence to the influx of big-money fights happening as part of the Saudi Riyadh season.

One thing’s for sure: with Dubois knocking out big names and the division’s top fighters set for high-stakes matchups, Warren’s right about one thing. The heavyweight division is buzzing, and there’s no telling what comes next.