ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper
Daniel Dubois is set for a date of destiny with Oleksandr Usyk after officially being named as his mandatory challenger by the WBA.
Usyk has been ordered to defend his unified heavyweight titles against Dubois after failing to negotiate a mega-fight with Tyson Fury last month, a contest which initially took precedence over his mandatory duties given it would have crowned an undisputed champion.
Though despite accepting a questionable 70-30 purse split out of his favour, the Ukrainian eventually pulled the plug on talks with Fury after growing tired of his excessive demands, including for a rematch clause to be removed from their fight contract.
Boxing’s wait for its first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades therefore goes on, and the breakdown in talks with Fury means Usyk will now turn his attention to another Brit in Dubois.
Boxing’s wait for its first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades therefore goes on, and the breakdown in talks with Fury means Usyk will now turn his attention to another Brit in Dubois.
Oleksandr Usyk (left) has been ordered to defend his unified heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois (right)
Both parties now have 30 days to thrash out terms for their meeting, after which purse bids will come into play.
Dubois is gearing up for his first world heavyweight title challenge and undoubtedly the biggest test of his six-year career so far.
The Greenwich fighter has claimed 19 victories, 18 of which came by knockout, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of domestic rival Joe Joyce in November 2020.
Despite leading on the scorecards at the time, Dubois was forced to retire in the 10th round of his showdown with Joyce after suffering a fractured eye socket, yet since that painful evening he has recorded four straight wins.
The previous victory proved a hairier affair than expected, nevertheless, when underdog Kevin Lerena sent him crashing to the canvas three times in the first round at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was later revealed that he had suffered a knee injury inside that opening round, which the WBA were forced to assess before ordering his world-title shot.
DDD eventually secured a stoppage win in the third round, though both he and trainer Shane McGuigan know a significantly-improved display is required if they are to stand any chance of toppling the masterful Usyk.
The latter has enjoyed a flawless professional career up to this point, capturing the undisputed crown at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight and beating Anthony Joshua.
Many have questioned whether it would be wise for Dubois to jump in with Usyk at this stage of his career, however the man himself insists he is ready for the challenge.
‘I believe I can knock him out,’ he recently told Seconds Out. ‘I want to end the reign of Usyk, take all the belts and fulfil my promise and what my potential is.’
‘I’ve got the timing, I’ve got the youth and I’ve got the speed. With my coaches, and the team I’ve got around me, I feel like this is where miracles can happen.”
‘He’s just another guy. He’s fit and he’s proven he’s a talented boxer. But I believe I can do it.’
