Daniel Dubois wants another shot at Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight has set his sights on a rematch with the Ukrainian champion if he can get past Joseph Parker on February 22.
Dubois and Usyk met in the ring last year, with Usyk coming out on top. The fight ended in a stoppage, but not without controversy. A punch that Dubois claimed was a legal body shot sent Usyk to the canvas. The referee ruled it a low blow, giving Usyk time to recover. Despite this moment, Usyk largely controlled the fight.
Since then, Dubois has been on a roll. He's picked up impressive wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua. These victories earned him the IBF World Title, which Usyk had vacated.
Usyk has said he'll take on whoever wins between Dubois and Parker. The Ukrainian star wants to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, adding to his undisputed reign at cruiserweight.
Former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, who lost to Usyk in 2018, shared his thoughts on Dubois calling for a rematch. Speaking to Sporting Talk, Bellew said:
"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."
Bellew also addressed the controversy from the first Dubois-Usyk fight:
"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."
The former champion didn't mince words about how the fight played out overall:
"Ultimately, look at how the fight ended up. He had enough."
Usyk has made a habit of beating British fighters. Dubois is one of five Brits Usyk has defeated, starting with Bellew in the cruiserweight ranks. The Ukrainian has only added to his reputation since moving up to heavyweight, with two stellar wins over Tyson Fury cementing his status as the division's top dog.
For now, all eyes will be on Dubois as he prepares to face Parker. A win there could set up the rematch he's after, but he'll have his work cut out for him if he wants a different result against Usyk.
