As Daniel Dubois’ fight with Oleksandr Usyk gets ever closer, Tony Bellew has made his prediction.
The first time they met was in August 2023, out in Poland, when ‘DDD’ was still learning his trade. Despite that, he had Usyk down in the 5th round, but the referee ruled the shot to be low and Usyk was given plenty of time to recover, and eventually he went on to stop the Brit inside nine rounds.
Since then, Dubois has become one of the most improved and in-form men in the division with wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and a stoppage over Anthony Joshua back in September 2024, which saw him retain his IBF world title.
That belt will be on the line against unified champion Usyk, Usyk, who is attempting to make history as two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, former cruiserweight champion Bellew recognised that Dubois is better than he was in 2023, but still made an emphatic prediction in favour of the Ukrainian – ‘Oleksandr Usyk will be victorious’.
“The victory over Anthony Joshua will have propelled his confidence levels to an all-time high. He’s well in this fight, he’s a super dangerous challenger, and he will go into it with a lot of belief, but I believe that belief will get shrunk. As the rounds pass, and as the shots start getting landed on him, the questions start getting asked again. Oleksandr Usyk will be victorious.”
