Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois look set for a rematch this summer, with reports suggesting that they are close to signing a deal for Wembley Stadium on July 12. Tony Bellew has weighed in with an early fight prediction.
The pair of heavyweights have fought once before, with Usyk outboxing and stopping Dubois inside nine rounds after a controversial low blow saw the Ukrainian down and in need of recovery time.
Usyk went on to beat Tyson Fury to become undisputed, but was forced to drop the IBF belt to honour the contractual rematch. Dubois was elevated to full champion and defended that status with an emphatic knockout win over Anthony Joshua.
With Usyk’s one remaining goal in the sport being a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, and three-time overall after holding all the titles at cruiserweight, Dubois was his only target.
Speaking to Bet 365, Bellew backed the Ukrainian – who beat him by KO back in 2018 in his last cruiserweight bout – to stop Dubois in the later rounds.
“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 is at a stage in his career now where he’s overcome such adversity and he’s the most confident he’s ever been.
“I think he’ll get stopped between rounds eight and 12.”
Both teams have been coy on the reports suggesting the fight is being finalised, stating publicly that there is no news on the fight and there will be an official announcement should that change.
