Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker come face-to-face this weekend for the right to claim the IBF heavyweight title and the chance to face Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois is the defending IBF champion after dismantling Anthony Joshua in brutal fashion last time out.
And next up for the Brit is another former world champion in New Zealander Parker, who wants a belt back after a late-career resurgence.
This fight is taking place on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 undercard this weekend, and the whole boxing world will be watching, including Usyk.
Will the winner of Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker face Oleksandr Usyk next?
The simple answer to this is yes.
This is because Usyk holds the other heavyweight belts after beating Tyson Fury in December.
So, he now has the WBC, WBA and WBO titles to his name, and he has publicly said he wants to fight the winner of this contest.
This would give him the chance to unify the heavyweight division for a second time, which since there was four belts, has never been done before, while he only wants two more fights before calling it a day.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT's George Glinski in London, Usyk was asked about his next opponent.
He said: "We wait for a fight on February 22 between Daniel and Joseph.
"Whoever wins this fight between Daniel and Joseph, I have already made the fight."
Dubois has fought Usyk, and in his view, was robbed of a win after a shot to the Ukrainian was deemed a low blow.
Usyk was allowed time to recover before getting up and knocking the Londoner out in round nine.
Of course, Dubois wants to fight the modern-day boxing legend again and jumped in the ring immediately after Usyk beat Fury to challenge the Ukrainian.
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| Usyk wants to unify the heavyweight division againCredit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank |
After the incident, Dubois was criticised for his actions by some for stealing Usyk's moment, but in an interview earlier this year, he defended it.
He said: "This is boxing at the end of the day, any publicity is good publicity.
"If they hate it or they like it then yeah. I've been boxing long enough to understand that now.
"It's not all about having everything your way and everyone love you, but as long as they want to see you that is all that matters.
"But at the end of the day, I want to get through Parker and then that fight [with Usyk] is done.
"It's all about making noise, and as a world champion you can choose your destiny and path.
"I'm just challenging in my eyes and I want to become undisputed champion and that's my intentions."
Meanwhile, Parker was very open that he was targeting the winner of Usyk vs Fury 2, so if he wins, he'll be more than up for facing Usyk.
His promoter David Higgins said: "Joseph wants to become undisputed heavyweight world champion. He's going to give it everything until the day he retires so I'd be lying if I didn't say that was the goal.
"He wants to beat Dubois and then he wants to fight whoever has the other belts and try and unify."
So, the path is clear for the winner of Dubois and Parker to face Usyk.
But how does the Ukrainian think the fight will go?
Well, talkSPORT asked him.
"52 per cent for Daniel and 48 per cent for Parker that is what my team have predicted," Usyk said.
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| The last time Usyk and Dubois met, it ended badly for DDD |
Dubois vs Parker: Date and how to follow
This 12-round heavyweight title bout will take place on Saturday, February 22 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is part of the Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 event.
Official start times are yet to be announced but the undercard is expected to get going from 6pm UK time.
The ring walks for this bout will then be at around 10pm.
talkSPORT has secured the commentary rights to this massive event.
Adam Catterall will present live coverage from Riyadh on talkSPORT at 8pm with commentary coming from Gareth A Davies, Spencer Oliver and John Rawling.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
You can also follow the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube Channel for all the latest news, views and exclusive content.
We'll also be holding a live watch-along for all the action over on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel.
The entire card will also be streamed on DAZN Pay-Per-View and UK fans can pay £19.99 to watch the action here.



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