Daniel Dubois has made it extremely clear that he is targetting a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk should he defeat Joseph Parker on February 22.
The young Brit was stopped by the Ukrainian in 2023, though not before a controversial low blow sent Usyk to the canvas. Despite largely being outboxed throughout the contest, Dubois’ team have held on to that moment and want to run it back.
The 27-year-old Londoner has since found fantastic form, stopping Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua as well as picking up the IBF World Title when it was vacated by Usyk.
Dubois is one of five Brits Usyk has beaten, the first being Tony Bellew in the cruiserweight ranks – an eighth round stoppage that sent the Liverpool man into retirement.
Speaking to Sporting Talk, Bellew looked back on the first heavyweight encounter when reacting to Dubois calling for a rematch.
“These guys are begging now for the payday because they know who the king is. These guys need [Usyk], he doesn’t need them. Oleksandr Usyk can choose to fight whoever he wants. He is now the draw in the heavyweight division, the big name. I take my hat off to Anthony Joshua, I take my hat off to Tyson Fury, because they had the cajones to face him.
As did Daniel Dubois. But let’s not get away from anything, Daniel fought him once and we seen how that fight went. Everyone goes on about the [low blow] – let’s just be brutally honest, it hit the protector. Why is it a called a protector? Because it protects you.”
Though he didn’t specifically predict a return bout, and has been complimentary of Dubois’ form of late, Bellew ended with this:
“Ultimately, look at how the fight ended up. He had enough.”
Usyk – who is coming off two stellar wins over Tyson Fury – has made it clear to promoter Frank Warren that he will indeed take on the winner of Dubois vs Parker in an attempt to become two-time undisputed in the heavyweight division after also holding all the belts at cruiserweight.
