Twice Daniel Dubois has tried to unseat Oleksandr Usyk. On each events he’s failed, however might the brand new WBO heavyweight champion lastly be able to defeat the nice Ukrainian?
Dubois’ first try at Usyk got here in 2023, when he challenged the unified champion for the WBA, WBO and IBF belts in Poland. In that battle, Usyk rose from a blow deemed to be under the belt and finally bamboozled Dubois to see him counted out within the ninth spherical.
Usyk shed the IBF title between his two fights with Tyson Fury. Dubois secured that championship and knocked out Anthony Joshua in 2024. Buoyed by that success, he tried once more in opposition to Usyk final yr. However in that undisputed battle Usyk knocked him out even faster, dispatching the Londoner within the fifth spherical.
Dubois, although, has rebuilt and reclaimed a world title after coming by way of an epic brawl with Fabio Wardley on Could 9.
His promoter, Frank Warren, believes Dubois is now in a greater place to beat Usyk.
“I’d like to see Daniel in with him again,” Warren instructed Sky Sports activities. “He is grown up mentally. Bodily, he is there however mentally he is grown into this now and I would really like see that battle once more, I actually would. We are going to see.
“You know it’ll be a fight while it lasts.”
Warren thinks the battle with Wardley has been a turning level for Dubois. “It was a tough fight, but I genuinely believe that fight will bring him on even more,” he stated. “He grew up mentally in that fight. He applied himself. His focus was there and his determination came through for him.”
Dubois is barely 28 years outdated however Warren believes he already has a Corridor of Fame worthy profession.
“When you look at AJ being elected, he’s been put forward to go in there, a two-time world champion quite rightly – he beat AJ. He done a job that no one else done on AJ,” the promoter famous.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Talking on Toe2Toe, Andy Clarke and Charlie Edwards sit up for Oleksandr Usyk’s showdown with kickboxing famous person Rico Verhoeven.
Dubois’ workforce additionally think about their man to be a sufficiently improved fighter to tackle Usyk a 3rd time.
“We looked at Daniel and how to maximise his performances in and out of the ring,” Mohammed Ali, Dubois’ head of boxing efficiency evaluation, instructed Sky Sports activities.
“Usyk has a very scientific approach, as you know, and his approach was very calm, very collected, didn’t say too much, although there was a lot happening in the background.
“The expertise that Usyk has over Daniel, that is all it was. The expertise that he has, and that is precisely what was portrayed on the night time, is the distinction in how Usyk was dealing with it.
“However if there was a third fight, I can guarantee you it would be the same approach of what you saw with Fabio and even better.”
Do not miss Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki dwell on Sky Sports activities on June 6.
