Toney Bellew has made his prediction for the upcoming undisputed heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
Dubois is currently the IBF world champion, though he has not fought since September. That was his most impressive outing to date and ended with him stopping former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua inside five rounds to defend his belt.
Usyk has also fought Joshua twice, although both of his wins in 2021 and 2022 came on points after the completion of 12 rounds. After taking three of the four major world titles off Joshua, Usyk went on to fight Tyson Fury twice. He won both contests on points to claim the fourth and final major title and become the first undisputed champion since Lennox lewis, but vacated the IBF strap in order to honour the second fight with ‘The Gypsy King.’
Back in August 2023, Usyk defended his titles against Dubois by stopping the Brit in the 9th round, but not before some controversy after Dubois put him down with what was ruled a low blow and the Ukrainian was given all the time he added to recover.
Speaking to Bet 365, Bellew was asked what he thinks will happen when the two meet again and is backing the Ukrainian to once again get the stoppage.
“Usyk is the best heavyweight in the world. He’s probably the best heavyweight of our era, there is no disputing it anymore. He’s amazing at what he does.
Dubois has been amazing. I’ve wrote him off on a number of occasions and he’s come back to prove me wrong. You’ve got to give him a shot and he’s in with a chance, but Usyk has already made him quit once so can he make him do it again?
He (Dubois) is at a stage in his career now where he’s overcome such adversity and he’s the most confident he’s ever been but I think he’ll get stopped between rounds eight and 12.”
Despite Usyk having a mandatory challenger in Joseph Parker and Dubois being ordered to fight Derek Chisora, the undisputed fight has taken precedence over both.
