Daniel Dubois has had a change of heart when it comes to fighting Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois and Usyk first met back in August 2023 when the Brit was challenging for the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles. It was a controversial fight, due to ‘DDD’ dropping the Ukrainian early in the bout with what he thought was a legitimate body shot.
It was instead ruled a low blow, and Usyk went on to win the fight by ninth round stoppage. Since that clash, Usyk has gone on to win the undisputed heavyweight title, before vacating the IBF belt and allowing Dubois to claim that.
Dubois was set to defend that belt against Joseph Parker in February, but was forced out on fight week through illness. It was then believed that Parker may have missed his chance to challenge ‘DDD’ for his title, due to Usyk stating his intention to face his former rival.
It seemed that Dubois disagreed with that assessment though, after he told Podlounge UK that his priority was to honour the fight with Parker.
“I want to run it back [with Parker]. If they can get that fight on, that’s the fight I want next. It’s unfinished business and it’s left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I want to fight them all. I want to fight Parker definitely. Hopefully Turki might hear this and make it happen in England at Wembley or something. I want to fight Parker, that’s unfinished business for me. If not Parker, Usyk or AJ, these are the guys I want next.”
A few days on, Dubois has made a U-turn on those comments, now stating to The Ring that he does indeed want the undisputed fight with Usyk next.
“A big fight in July against Usyk. That’s what I want… the Usyk fight [at Wembley] would be like the AJ fight but way bigger, the biggest fight in the world.”
One potential issue for Dubois could be his mandatory challenger, after the IBF ordered him to defend his belt against fellow brit Derek Chisora.
