Lennox Lewis backs Daniel Dubois to beat Oleksandr Usyk in their upcoming rematch for the undisputed heavyweight championship on July 19. The former undisputed champion believes Dubois has what it takes to dethrone Usyk after their controversial first encounter.
Usyk stopped Dubois in the ninth round of their 2023 bout, but the fight wasn't without drama. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a shot that dropped Usyk. The referee ruled it a low blow, but Dubois' team insisted it was a legal body shot that could have won him the fight.
Since then, both fighters have been busy. Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become the undisputed champion but vacated the IBF belt to honor his rematch clause with Dubois. Dubois didn't waste the opportunity, winning that vacant IBF title with an emphatic victory over Anthony Joshua.
Lewis, the last British undisputed heavyweight champion, shared his thoughts on the rematch in an interview with Queensberry Promotions.
"I'm thinking he's ready. He's been through the trials and tribulations. He's the king slayer. He's got the power. He's been there before. He was just there, he knocked the guy down, so he knows what he needs to do. It would be great for him to do it, another man from Great Britain."
Lewis acknowledges it won't be easy for Dubois but believes he's up for the challenge.
"It's not an easy task, but he's definitely the man that can go through with it. He's done the work. He's gone through the pedigree. He's a certified world champion and I think he has big hopes on doing it. He's going to do it."
The former champion also touched on the controversial knockdown from their first fight and how it might influence Dubois' strategy.
"Obviously he's seen a weakness in the first fight. I believe that there's a weakness, you gotta attack it. Don't give him no shortcuts. This fight is everything. I know Daniel's a pretty determined, focused fighter. He's going to be ready. This is his dream … My eyes are not too good, but I would say that the ref let Oleksandr Usyk off in that punch."
For Usyk, this fight is part of his plan to wind down his career. If he wins, he's eyeing either a trilogy with Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua as his final bout. Dubois aims to spoil those plans and hand Usyk his first professional defeat.
The rematch promises to be a fascinating contest. Will Dubois prove Lewis right and overcome his apparent loss of will from the first encounter? Or will Usyk's skills prove too much once again? We'll find out on July 19.
