BoxRec

Euro News: Daniel Dubois vs. Ryad Merhy

The EBU had set today (Jan 30) at noon as the deadline for purse bids for the fight for its vacant heavyweight title between German Tom Schwarz (29-1) and Belgian Ryad Merhy (32-2).

However, a few hours before the deadline Schwarz withdrew.

The Belgian was for a few hours alone as challenger but then Daniel Dubois (20-2) stepped in and is now co-challenger along with Merhy. The EBU has set February 13 as the deadline for purse bids.

Both men are coming off good wins as Merhy outscored Frenchman Tony Yoka while Dubois stopped Jarrell Miller.

They should try getting Dubois back out on the March Saudi card..

Either this fight, or just have this fight in the UK,

Not a good fight really. Dubois needs legitimate heavyweight opponents competitive at euro level or higher.

EBU ordering this instead of Wardley or even Kossobutskiy/Wallin off a loss is a shame. Did Kabayel duck this fight then?

Schwarz being a massive duck after being exposed as a fraud isn't surprising.

leftovers of his earlier career cruiser opponent kev lerena. get it done quick if theyre going this route....

Merhy's a good fringe world level cruiser, but he's not really a HW, would be more suited to bridgerweight if he can't or doesn't want to make cruiser anymore. I'd expect Merhy to give a decent account of himself but get stopped down the stretch.

Clearly won't happen.

Not enough money or interest in it for Dubois at this stage of his career.

Frostieballs wrote: ↑31 Jan 2024, 06:30 Clearly won't happen.

Not enough money or interest in it for Dubois at this stage of his career.

it says Dubois stepped in..

Nice and easy way of collecting the EBU belt.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Jan 2024, 06:48

Frostieballs wrote: ↑31 Jan 2024, 06:30 Clearly won't happen.

Not enough money or interest in it for Dubois at this stage of his career.

it says Dubois stepped in..

Nice and easy way of collecting the EBU belt.

I reckon that means they went to next in list?

Probably the EBU press release translation from Italian!

good title for Dubois to win. Joe Joyce could have regained it easily if he'd stepped in

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑31 Jan 2024, 11:28 good title for Dubois to win. Joe Joyce could have regained it easily if he'd stepped in

Am I right in thinking that no one can fight for it coming off a loss though? I would like to see You've get some domestic titles and sail off into the sunset to be fair. Great career

wrighty wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 07:05

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑31 Jan 2024, 11:28 good title for Dubois to win. Joe Joyce could have regained it easily if he'd stepped in

Am I right in thinking that no one can fight for it coming off a loss though? I would like to see You've get some domestic titles and sail off into the sunset to be fair. Great career

ah, I did not know that. Makes sense though.

I can see Frank doing this fight as it should be relatively cheap and sticking it on the Beterbiev-Bivol show

Manchester Hitman wrote: ↑01 Feb 2024, 17:40 I can see Frank doing this fight as it should be relatively cheap and sticking it on the Beterbiev-Bivol show

and gets DDD a decent title.

Why the fvck would shwartz pull out. what else he got cooking?

Merhy would semi be DDDs best win. well, mabey not. would not be definitively above or bellow DDDs best few opponents.

I dont hate this at all if it happens quick.

gregregegg wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 03:32 Why the fvck would shwartz pull out. what else he got cooking?

Merhy would semi be DDDs best win. well, mabey not. would not be definitively above or bellow DDDs best few opponents.

I dont hate this at all if it happens quick.

well lerena beat merhy handily 9 months ago so it's definitely below him

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 03:33

gregregegg wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 03:32 Why the fvck would shwartz pull out. what else he got cooking?

Merhy would semi be DDDs best win. well, mabey not. would not be definitively above or bellow DDDs best few opponents.

I dont hate this at all if it happens quick.

well lerena beat merhy handily 9 months ago so it's definitely below him

depressing if Lerena beat him easily

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 03:33

gregregegg wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 03:32 Why the fvck would shwartz pull out. what else he got cooking?

Merhy would semi be DDDs best win. well, mabey not. would not be definitively above or bellow DDDs best few opponents.

I dont hate this at all if it happens quick.

well lerena beat merhy handily 9 months ago so it's definitely below him

but since then merhy beat yoka... so not 100% nessasarialy. but yes i would say given the recencey lerena as a fighter is above merhy as a fighter....

But if DDD beats Merhy well, It will be a better win than him beating lerena terribly in a fight that absolutly could have been called a round 1 KO for lerena. (im glad it wasnt i view it the same way as i view otto vs fury, absolutly could have been stopped and the looser won, but ref did well letting it go).

i mean it was 9 months and a fight ago. merhy beating yoka says more about yoka really

This fight isn't terrible. Would love Kabayel Vs DDD

He's fighting Grant Shala now who's unproven. A way to get a strap and keep a high ranking. Mehry does Bridgerweight I think

Crap fight. This belt has lost all desirability, nobody worth it wants it.

joshj909 wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 09:30

Crap fight. This belt has lost all desirability, nobody worth it wants it.

what a weak opponent. Shala has fought 9 people with losing records and is the 8th best German heavyweight!

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 15:21

joshj909 wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 09:30

Crap fight. This belt has lost all desirability, nobody worth it wants it.

what a weak opponent. Shala has fought 9 people with losing records and is the 8th best German heavyweight!

Even one of the 7 better than him would be better.

The guys going for it should be Kabayel, Dubois, Joyce, Hrgovic, Wallin, Chisora, Pulev, Makhmudov, Wardley, Vykhryst and guys of that level. I understand the ones like Hrgovic who have a guaranteed title shot or big money match coming soon but the othera should be more worthy than Shala.

joshj909 wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 16:43

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 15:21

joshj909 wrote: ↑07 Feb 2024, 09:30

Crap fight. This belt has lost all desirability, nobody worth it wants it.

what a weak opponent. Shala has fought 9 people with losing records and is the 8th best German heavyweight!

Even one of the 7 better than him would be better.

The guys going for it should be Kabayel, Dubois, Joyce, Hrgovic, Wallin, Chisora, Pulev, Makhmudov, Wardley, Vykhryst and guys of that level. I understand the ones like Hrgovic who have a guaranteed title shot or big money match coming soon but the othera should be more worthy than Shala.

agree mate, surely the EBU know this devalues the belt, unless they're only bothered about the sanctioning fee being paid. I'm not aware of who runs EBU so don't know.

DDD still looking to fight on fury v usyk undercard though. So this fight needs to happen asap.

Like most, never heard of his opponent, hopefully uneventful quick knockout to keep him busy and pick up a belt.