Usyk's journey to the top of the heavyweight division has been impressive. He beat Anthony Joshua twice in 2022 to claim three of the major belts. Then, in May 2024, he defeated Tyson Fury on points to become the undisputed champion. However, he had to give up the IBF belt to secure a rematch with Fury.
Dubois got his hands on that vacant IBF title by knocking out Filip Hrgovic. He then defended it successfully against Anthony Joshua in September, stopping the former champion in the fifth round. A planned defense against Joseph Parker in February fell through when Dubois got sick.
These two fighters have met before. In August 2023, they clashed in a controversial bout. Dubois landed a punch that many thought was low, and Usyk went down. Despite this moment, Usyk ended up stopping Dubois in the ninth round.
Fabio Wardley, an undefeated British heavyweight who's sparred with both men, shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight. In an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Wardley said:
"It's a fantastic fight. Dubois has had a bit of learning since his first time with Usyk, so it still makes for a very intriguing fight, but I do think for the most part it's pretty much going to go the same way. Not to take anything away from Daniel and his progression over time, but ultimately Usyk is a hard man to bet against at the moment."
Wardley, who's ranked number one by the WBA, thinks Dubois has improved since their first fight. But he still sees Usyk as the favorite.
The winner of this fight might have to face Joseph Parker next. The former heavyweight champ could be in line for a mandatory shot at the WBO belt. That would add even more excitement to an already stacked heavyweight division.