Daniel Dubois is determined to seek revenge as he prepares for a heavyweight unification showdown against Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium on 19 July. The British fighter, who currently holds the IBF heavyweight title, has long sought a rematch with Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, and WBC belts. The two men first met in August 2023, when Usyk stopped Dubois in the ninth round of a controversial bout in Poland.
The 27-year-old Dubois has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the circumstances surrounding his loss, especially the actions of referee Luis Pabon. During the fifth round of the fight, Dubois landed a punch that appeared to knock Usyk down, but Pabon ruled it a low blow, allowing Usyk time to recover. This decision led to a heated debate, with Dubois’ camp believing that the fight had been unfairly influenced by the referee’s judgment.
Since that loss, Dubois has worked hard to prove his worth, claiming victory in key matchups that have put him back in the title picture. He defeated Jarrell Miller, won the vacant IBF belt by defeating Filip Hrgovic, and secured a dramatic knockout victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley. In contrast, Usyk has not fought since his December victory over Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, where he triumphed in a highly anticipated battle for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Dubois is eager for redemption and views this upcoming bout as a chance to right the wrongs of the past. “This is the fight I wanted and demanded,” said Dubois. “I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgment of the referee, so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city. I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now, and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19.”
He further added, “I would like to thank my promoter Frank Warren for making this happen for me, and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.” The rematch will be a significant step toward that goal, with Dubois determined to prove that he is the top fighter in the heavyweight division.
For Usyk, the fight represents an opportunity to regain the IBF title and reassert his dominance as one of the world’s best heavyweights. The Ukrainian fighter is eager to unify the heavyweight titles again and reclaim his full collection of belts. “I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship,” Usyk said. “Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back.”
The rematch became a reality after reports surfaced last month that Dubois had submitted a request to the WBO to sanction the clash, ahead of a mandatory defense against Joseph Parker. Initially, Dubois had been considering a potential all-British fight against Derek Chisora, but the rematch with Usyk quickly became the priority.
A head-to-head press conference between the two fighters is scheduled for Tuesday, with tickets for the highly anticipated bout going on sale the following day. Fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling and action-packed contest between two of the best heavyweights in the world. As Dubois aims for redemption and Usyk seeks to consolidate his position as the undisputed champion, the stakes couldn’t be higher for this upcoming heavyweight unification fight.
