Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will step into the ring again on July 19 for a heavyweight title rematch. The fight comes after their controversial first bout where Usyk won by stoppage in the ninth round, despite Dubois knocking him down with a punch ruled as an illegal low blow.
Joseph Parker, the WBO mandatory challenger, has his eyes set on this fight. The New Zealander's recent wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole have put him in line to face the winner.
Parker shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch in an interview with Jackpot City Casino. He favors Usyk to win, giving him a 60-40 edge over Dubois.
"I see Daniel coming out firing and chasing Usyk down. But Usyk will begin to break him down in the middle rounds. He'll start putting on the pace and get on top in the later rounds."
Parker pointed out Usyk's engine, movements, and feints as key factors. He also mentioned Dubois' ability to keep up with the pace and stay mentally strong as crucial elements.
The former WBO champion offered some advice for Dubois:
"He needs to stay mentally strong, believe in himself, and back himself. His preparation should give him confidence. He's got to overcome that previous challenge where he stayed down after a jab."
Usyk comes into the fight with impressive wins over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Dubois, on the other hand, hasn't fought since September when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in five rounds. Before that, he stopped Filip Hrgovic last June and scored a late KO against Jarrell Miller.
Interestingly, Parker and Dubois were set to fight in February, but Dubois pulled out during fight week. Martin Bakole stepped in as a replacement.
Parker's vested interest in the outcome is clear. As the mandatory challenger, he's in line to face the winner for all four heavyweight belts. The New Zealander has already named his preferred opponent, adding another layer of intrigue to this heavyweight showdown.
