The US leg of a big night of boxing on BT Sport sees Daniel Dubois go for a world title, as he challenges for the secondary WBA heavyweight crown against America’s Trevor Bryan at the Casino Miami in Florida.
Bryan’s promoter, Don King won the purse bid in March ahead of Dubois’s promoter, Frank Warren to stage the clash.
Dubois (17-1, 16 KOs) is still only 24, and seemed to be on a fast track for superstardom, with several highlight-reel early wins since turning professional in April 2017.
The Londoner picked up British and ranking-building titles, and he was a firm favourite to add Commonwealth and European titles in November 2020 against Joe Joyce.
Joyce didn’t read the script though, and the Olympic Silver medallist was too good for ‘Dynamite’, with his jab causing so much damage that Dubois was forced to sit out a tenth round count.
He has rebounded with two wins since, both blowouts, winning the interim WBA strap with a second round knockout of Bogdan Dinu, and last time out, he halted Joe Cusumano inside a round.
Bryan (22-0, 15 KOs) is unbeaten, and one of Don King’s last remaining hopes to make big money as a world champion.
The 32-year-old may be classed as world champion by the governing body he represents, but he is yet to reach the level of Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and the like.
The New Yorker won the vacant belt in January last year, stopping former WBC champion Bermane Stiverne in eleven rounds, and defended with a split decision win over Jonathan Guidry in January.
Prediction: Bryan looks there for the taking, and winning this belt could be a good bargaining chip for Dubois, and a step towards elite level. I expect Dubois to hurt Bryan early, and score a knockout win before the halfway mark.
Scott faces Guidry
The aforementioned Jonathan Guidry (17-1-2, 10 KOs) is in action on this bill, but it’s likely his efforts will end in an early defeat at the hands of Dacarree Scott (7-0, 6 KOs) in their scheduled ten rounder at heavyweight.
Remaining Undercard
There are several NABA belts on the line here over ten rounds.
The vacant belt is up for grabs at light heavyweight, where Ahmed Elbiali (21-1, 18 KOs) should take an early win against Dervin Colina (16-1, 14 KOs), and at cruiserweight, Johnnie Langston (10-3, 4 KOs) can defend his title on the scorecards against Isaiah Thompson (6-1-1, 5 KOs).
The final NABA dust-up is at welterweight, and Tre’Sean Wiggins (13-5-3, 7 KOs) can retain inside schedule against Travis Castellon (17-4-1, 12 KOs).
At middleweight, Ian Green (15-2, 11 KOs) can take the vacant WBA Continental Americas middleweight crown with a points win over Anthony Lenk (17-8, 7 KOs).
There are two six rounders to round off the card. Luis J Rodriguez Fernandez (8-0, 8 KOs) can extend his knockout run at super middleweight against Ryan Adams (8-5-1, 6 KOs), and at super lightweight, Raynel Mederos (6-0, 1 KO) may need the distance to see off Ryan Wilson (1-0, 1 KO).
