With 2026 underway, the heavyweight division has already dominated the early headlines, with a host of contenders jockeying for position in an increasingly crowded title picture. In one of the most intriguing storylines, Daniel Dubois looks to regain his world heavyweight title.
Oleksandr Usyk’s next championship defense is set to be announced, Tyson Fury has confirmed his return after a year of retirement and Anthony Joshua has returned to training following a serious car accident which tragically claimed the lives of two of his friends. Elsewhere, Agit Kabayel marked a successful comeback with victory over Damian Knyba, while Fabio Wardley’s first defense of his WBO title could come against Derek Chisora in what would be the veteran’s 50th professional fight.
But questions remain over the immediate future of former IBF heavyweight champion Dubois.
The 28-year-old recently teamed up with Tony Sims after opting not to retain Don Charles and is looking to rebuild following his failed bid for undisputed honors against Usyk at Wembley Stadium last summer. Despite being ranked in the top five by two of the four major sanctioning bodies, there is so far little clarity on when – or against whom – Dubois will return.
Its promoter Frank Warren, however, has a clear idea of the direction he would like to see “Dynamite” take. Speaking to Queensberry’s Dev Sahni on Friday, Warren described a potential blockbuster.
“I would like to see him with ‘Big Bang’ [Zhilei Zhang]. I think it’s a big fight. I would like to see that. It would be a great and fantastic fight. Two big punchers, that’s what you want. Big guys throwing bombs at each other. This is what people buy into with the heavyweights. Exciting fights. Whether it goes the distance or not, it will be exciting.
While Dubois has already experienced the life of a world champion, Zhang is still pursuing this stage. The 42-year-old Chinese heavyweight has always faced elite opposition, but his recent record stands at three wins and three losses against Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce, Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder and Agit Kabayel.
A victory over Dubois would represent a significant career boost for Zhang – and an equally valuable statement for the Briton – as both look to get back into a title conversation currently led by Usyk and Wardley.
