Johnny Nelson predicts Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker fight

Johnny Nelson previews Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker fight

IBF World heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois defends his title to former world champ Joseph Parker on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of the Brit's world title defence, former long-reigning cruiserweight world champion, Johnny Nelson, previewed the upcoming clash and gave his prediction on who he believes wins.

Nelson spoke to Action Network all about the next world heavyweight title fight... 

Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker

"Joseph Parker has the beating of Daniel Dubois technically, but Dubois is on a roll now and he knows what he has to do. Daniel has to put the pressure on and steam on in. That style of Daniel Dubois suits a young man. Mike Tyson got in with a lot of people who with the sweet science of boxing were better, but they didn’t have that ferocious power that could put pressure on.

"Daniel Dubois against Joseph Parker, I could see him bringing that to the forefront and Daniel’s power could get through, but Joseph is smart, he’s been with big hitters, can box and it’s a great fight. Joseph Parker could become two-time heavyweight champion of the world."

The Andy Lee Effect

"Andy Lee is a very clever and seasoned fighter. If you surround yourself with experience, then you can only become experienced. If you surround yourself with someone who has read this book, that book, and has gone to college, they might have an educational understanding of the sport, but they haven’t got any experience which is the only thing you can’t buy.

"Andy Lee is an experienced former fighter who knows how to pass a message on and bring it out of other fighters. It’s not just about getting you to run 100m in 10 seconds, it’s about mindset. So, no matter how many books you read or how many letters you get off of your name, if you haven’t had the experience, you’re never going to get the full potential in somebody who is talented. I think Andy Lee has done an amazing job."

Daniel Dubois Incredible Comeback

"It’s massive because you are used to the criticism of failure from the public. Everybody is your boss all of a sudden and is telling you how bad you are. You’ve got to swallow it so you become hard-skinned from it and there is only one way to go. Once you’ve tasted it, then what happens is, when you start to become successful you know both sides of it.

"You have experience of everything and that’s when you become wise. Daniel Dubois has had the experience of failure, criticism, and now success. He now has the choice and knows what both feel like. He knows what his mind was like when he was failing and knows what his mind is like succeeding.

"I say to fighters having an unbeaten record is great but it’s how you deal with it when you’ve lost. When you’re young you can grow out of it and learn but when you’re older, it’s harder to handle because you’re mature already so it’s harder to get over it and your head around it."