Daniel Dubois exclusive: 'Oleksandr Usyk a great next step after Joe Joyce'

There can be no doubting the faith invested in unbeaten British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois by his promoter, Frank Warren. Fresh from suggesting once-beaten former WBC king Deontay Wilder as an opponent for the young "Dynamite", Warren more recently indicated a desire to pitch his charge against Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO mandatory contender who outscored a motivated Dereck Chisora on Saturday. Warren’s only caveat is that unified king Anthony Joshua relinquish the WBO strap, meaning Usyk against their No. 3 would be for a vacant world title.

Now Dubois has joined the chorus. Asked by our YouTube channel who he would choose for his next fight, after the November 28 clash with Joe Joyce, Dubois’ thoughts immediately turned to Ukraine’s former cruiserweight supremo.

"They’re talking about Usyk, I don’t mind," responded Dubois in a wide-ranging interview covering Joyce, Usyk vs Chisora and the Dillian Whyte situation. "If that’s for a world title, that’s big bucks, big everything; you’re near the top of the hill with one belt. That will be a great next step once I get through Joe.
"This Joe fight is like a world title fight anyway, so I’d have no problem facing Usyk or any top contender next."

It is refreshing to see a rising heavyweight, often an overprotected species, willing and indeed clamouring to face the best in the division. Also to see a potential superstar and his promoter very much on the same page.