Trevor Bryan vs Daniel Dubois - world opens up for the winner, ends for the loser

You could be forgiven for thinking that the fight between Trevor Bryan (22-0, 15 KOs) and Daniel Dubois (17-1, 16 KOs) was not going to happen. After all, legendary promoter Don King has only promoted a handful of events in recent years and has been better known lately for fights that did not end up happening; just ask Mahmoud Charr or Dave Allen. For now, barring injuries or any mishaps, this fight is all set to go on June 11 at the Casino Miami. The fight will air live on BT Sport in the UK and can also be watched on the BT Sport app. Viewers elsewhere can purchase the fight as a PPV on FITE.

Bryan will defend his WBA ‘world’ heavyweight title (a secondary version of their championship) against Dubois, who is ranked No. 1 by the same organisation and holds the Interim belt. The fight was mandated in an attempt to reduce the number of titlists in each weight class by the WBA.

Bryan’s promoter, King, and Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, were ordered by the WBA to reach a deal or else face a purse bid. Since no deal was reached, the WBA held a purse bid that was won by King, who submitted $3,116,001. This gave King the sole right to promote the fight.

Warren and King have co-promoted fights in the past. What began as a partnership in 1994, however, ended bitterly in 1997 after Warren accused King of not securing Naseem Hamed prime American television exposure. Following a legal battle, Warren agreed to pay £7.2m to King.

All of that appears to be behind the two promoters whose fighters enter a bout that can have significant consequences. For Dubois, winning would give him a version of the heavyweight championship and the possibility to challenge for the ‘Super’ title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, in the future. However, a loss would raise serious questions about Dubois’ ability to compete in the current heavyweight landscape. He is still expected to win comfortably but can not afford to make mistakes against Bryan.

A Bryan victory would be a significant upset and also the biggest win of his career. It would raise his profile and make him a more appealing opponent to other heavyweight contenders and rising prospects. If such matchups come to fruition, Bryan and King would stand to make a lot of money from them. A loss certainly crushes those hopes and puts an end to Bryan’s bizarre reign.

The land of opportunity beckons Dubois and Bryan and with a combined 31 KOs between the two, this fight will surely not go the distance. Viewers will get to see yet another event promoted by Don King Productions which have become hard to come by these days and have lost their lustre over the years. One can hope, however, that Bryan vs Dubois will be one more entertaining heavyweight contest.