Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will fight again for the undisputed heavyweight world championship. The rematch will happen on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Usyk won their first fight in 2023 by stopping Dubois in the ninth round. That bout had some drama when Dubois landed a punch that his team said was legal, but the referee called it low.
Since then, both fighters have made big moves. Usyk became the undisputed champion by beating Tyson Fury but later gave up the IBF belt. Dubois picked up that vacant IBF title and defended it with a knockout win over Anthony Joshua.
Usyk shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight:
"I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship. Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back."
Dubois feels confident about his chances this time around:
"This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk. I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgement 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."
He added:
"I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19. I would like to thank my promoter Frank for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."
The rematch has shaken things up for Joseph Parker, who's the WBO's mandatory challenger. Parker was supposed to fight Dubois in February, but Dubois pulled out due to illness. Now, Parker might have to defend his Interim belt while waiting for his title shot.
The WBO decided to let this undisputed contest happen before Parker's mandatory fight. They believe it's best for boxing and the fighters to crown an undisputed champion. Parker keeps his mandatory status and will be next in line after this fight.
After Usyk and Dubois settle things, the heavyweight belts might split up again. If Usyk decides to retire, Parker could be upgraded or called to fight for the vacant title.
Fans can look forward to an exciting rematch at Wembley Stadium on July 19. The heavyweight division will be watching closely to see who comes out on top.
