Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Daniel Dubois is just days away.
The Ukrainian looks to add even more to an already impeccable legacy this weekend at Wembley Stadium if he beats 27-year-old Brit Dubois for a second time.
The first time these two fought was in August 2023 out in Poland. It was a controversial fight given that ‘DDD’ had Usyk down on the canvas after landing what he thought was a fierce body shot, but the referee ruled it low and the Ukrainian was allowed time to recover, which he did, eventually stopping Dubois with a jab in the ninth round.
Since then, Usyk has beaten Tyson Fury twice on points to claim all four heavyweight belts, though had to vacate the IBF for the rematch.
Meanwhile, Dubois has matured as a man and as a fighter and has come through three increasingly tough tests against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua in the last 18 months, all of whom he stopped to become to earn the vacant IBF belt.
Most feel that Dubois’ chance in this return fight comes early and through his incredible heavyweight power. However, speaking to DAZN, the now-nearing 40-year-old Usyk was asked about the biggest puncher he has faced in the ring. Rather than pick his old foe Dubois, he went with a fellow Brit.
“I think it’s Derek. Crazy Derek.”
Usyk fought Chisora back in 2020 in his second contest up at heavyweight and won a tough contest on the cards. Many feel that ‘Del Boy’ set the blueprint for how to fight the Ukrainian, though nobody has been able to emulate it since, certainly not to the point of beating him.
Whoever wins this weekend will be crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion – in Usyk’s case, that could be for a history-making second time on top of having been undisputed cruiserweight champion.
