Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are set to face off again in a heavyweight title clash. The fight will take place on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, with all four major belts on the line.
Usyk, the current WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight champion, will defend his titles against IBF champion Dubois. The Ukrainian fighter has remained undefeated throughout his professional career, with notable wins over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
The two boxers first met in August 2023, when Usyk won by a 9th round knockout. That fight wasn't without controversy. Dubois dropped Usyk with a shot that the referee deemed low, giving the Ukrainian time to recover. This decision sparked debate among boxing fans and experts.
Since their last encounter, both fighters have made significant strides. Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion by beating Tyson Fury in May last year. He later vacated the IBF belt, which Dubois won in a fight against Filip Hrgovic. Dubois, nicknamed "Triple D," went on to defend his title successfully against Anthony Joshua, winning by knockout.
Usyk's path to this rematch included another victory over Fury in December. He's now looking to make history as the first two-time undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Dubois, on the other hand, hasn't fought since September. While this layoff might raise concerns about ring rust, he's determined to add Usyk's three belts to his collection.
Former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight in an interview. He believes Dubois will come out on top:
"Triple D baby, all day, every day. In my eyes, Triple D is the only one who has ever hurt Usyk and put him down on the floor and made him think, and he was down there for like three, four minutes. Who's to say once he fights Uysk again, he won't go out there and absolutely destroy him and bring our belts back to our country like it's supposed to be."
Hamed points out that Dubois is the only fighter to have seriously hurt Usyk in the ring. He feels this factor could play a crucial role in the rematch.
As the fight date approaches, both Usyk and Dubois will be fine-tuning their strategies. Usyk wants to cement his legacy, while Dubois aims to prove that their first encounter wasn't a fluke. The boxing world watches with bated breath as these two heavyweight titans prepare to lock horns once again.
