Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois | ESPN+ - August 26, 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

[NateJR]

Bigger upsets have happened in boxing. Usyk should handle Dubois relatively easily and might even have a shot at stopping Dubois in 8 or 9 rounds.

[Lenny Cravats]

I always think that Usyk won't be able to cope with much bigger men at heavyweight. I mean, he's proved me wrong so far, but I still always think it.

[margaret thatcher]

the big oafy ones are the guys he does best against, really brings out his speed and mobility and fitness advantages

he is injury prone so that would be my greatest concern, but other than that flaring up i think he should handle dubstep

[Thomastearns]

I always think that Usyk won't be able to cope with much bigger men at heavyweight. I mean, he's proved me wrong so far, but I still always think it.

Me too, until that second Joshua fight.

That was the best I've seen Anthony Joshua.

I know AJ didn't entirely see eye to eye with Robert Garcia but his conditioning was never better.

There's absolutely nothing that Daniel Dubois will have over that version of Joshua.

Usyk's record also suggests he's an extremely poor candidate to try to land a 'lucky punch' against.

I hope they get to interview FW afterwards to explain his preposterous prefight comments.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Lackeos]

I'm pretty confused by how Dubois is getting 13% of the votes in this poll. Dubois was KO'ed by Joe Joyce. Usyk beat Joshua twice. Joshua is miles better than Dubois. Seriously, Dubois's best wins are like... Kevin Lerena and Trevor Bryan. I'm not convinced that either of them ever legitimately deserved a top 25 ranking. How does beating Kevin Lerena mean that you're capable of beating Usyk? The majority of the forum thinks that Fury is afraid to fight Usyk, and somehow beating Lerena means that you can beat the guy that Fury is afraid of? This is so stupid. Dubois hasn't even fought since tearing his ACL against Lerena. Are you sure he can even walk? You sure he isn't gonna just blow a tire in round 1 like in Martin - Glazkov and Vitali - Solis?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'm pretty confused by how Dubois is getting 13% of the votes in this poll. Dubois was KO'ed by Joe Joyce. Usyk beat Joshua twice. Joshua is miles better than Dubois. Seriously, Dubois's best wins are like... Kevin Lerena and Trevor Bryan. I'm not convinced that either of them ever legitimately deserved a top 25 ranking. How does beating Kevin Lerena mean that you're capable of beating Usyk? The majority of the forum thinks that Fury is afraid to fight Usyk, and somehow beating Lerena means that you can beat the guy that Fury is afraid of? This is so stupid. Dubois hasn't even fought since tearing his ACL against Lerena. Are you sure he can even walk? You sure he isn't gonna just blow a tire in round 1 like in Martin - Glazkov and Vitali - Solis?

Dev reckons Usyk has aged overnight.

[The Asleep Lamps]

Styles make fights. I don't think Fury fears Usyk per se but he fears losing. He fears that Usyk's style is all wrong for him. Or maybe he is hoping that Dubois scores the upset and he gets to fight him instead. I voted Usyk btw. My eyeballs will be watching it.

233 lbs for Dubois, 221 for Usyk
Usyk responding to the 12 lb weight difference, "It doesn't matter. Maybe I am not heavy like Daniel but I have heart."

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oleksandr Usyk 220.9
Daniel Dubois 233

[Perkin Warbeck]

Dubois says he's in the best shape of his life. He's had some of the best sparring partners the past few weeks. He's a powerful puncher and he's just entering his prime.

Another full year of inactivity for Usyk at his age can't have been good for him.

Although I still think Usyk will find a way to win, Dubois has a much greater chance of winning than some are saying. I see it as a 60-40 fight, not a 90-10 fight.

[The Asleep Lamps]

It looks like Hamed's kid to make his pro debut but I wouldn't trust that order yet as other sites have Berinchyk vs Yigit listed as the co main and Hamed's bout taking place earlier in the card.

[funso banjo baby]

It's frustrating, Joe Joyce has a second painful crack at Zhang after beating a string of decent top flight names.

Dubois gets a crack at Usyk after doing literally nothing....which includes getting broken apart by Joyce.


what a world

[Syntax Error]

the big oafy ones are the guys he does best against, really brings out his speed and mobility and fitness advantages

he is injury prone so that would be my greatest concern, but other than that flaring up i think he should handle dubstep

He is no more injury prone than Dubois.

DDD gets injured doing his washing up.

[Lackeos]

Although I still think Usyk will find a way to win, Dubois has a much greater chance of winning than some are saying. I see it as a 60-40 fight, not a 90-10 fight.

More like 97-3, IMO

[Ruthless-RKO]

Some Predictions

Here are predictions from some big names in the world of boxing:

Dubois' former trainer Shane McGuigan: "Dubois has to approach this fight like a four-round contest, like Mike Tyson used to approach most of his fights. If it goes past four rounds then we have to find out what plan B is about and learn to get through it.

"But they have to have the mindset 'If I clip or touch you, you're going to sleep' - so you have to let your hands go in combinations, not let them set on the jab, and really stick it on Usyk. He's definitely got a puncher's chance, for sure."

Unified light-middleweight champion Natasha Jonas: "Unfortunately I will have to say Usyk. I just think he's too skilled for Dubois at this point. But hats off to him for stepping up."

Former world featherweight champion Kid Galahad: "I'm going with Usyk. He has the tools to win widely and decisively. A sharp, complete and brilliant fighter. But this is heavyweight boxing and one punch can change any contest."

Mandatory challenger for the IBF world heavyweight title, Filip Hrgovic: "Dubois' experience, skillset and speed is not the same as Usyk's and this is why Usyk is the big favourite. Usyk outboxed Joshua easily, and Joshua is quicker than Dubois.

"Of course you have to give Dubois a puncher's chance - he is a big guy with a good straight right hand. But Usyk is the favourite to win this fight."

Former light-middleweight champion Liam Smith: "I don't think Dubois can do it. I fancy Usyk heavily in that fight. I think he's just too good for Daniel Dubois."

British flyweight Maisey Rose Courtney: "It's a tricky one. Dubois has the one-punch knockout power but Usyk is a masterful fighter. He is unbelievable - in my eyes one of the best ever. If it's a knockout it's Dubois' night. If it goes the distance, Usyk will give him a boxing lesson."

Former world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla: "You have to give Dubois a puncher's chance but it's probably hard to look past any more than that. Going on recent form, Usyk has been looking really good and Dubois struggled last time out against Kevin Lerena.

"The movement is going to be a big problem. If Dubois is to pull off a big upset, which is exactly what it will be, he has to land early to get the respect off Usyk. I believe Dubois is a confidence fighter - he has to have a good start to have any chance of winning it."

Former world light-middleweight champion Hannah Rankin: "I'm going with Usyk on points. I think he's settling to the bigger weight and technically he's brilliant."

Heavyweight contender Frazer Clarke: "I'm definitely rooting for Dubois and if he does land a big shot it could finish anyone in world boxing. But I have to put Usyk as the strong favourite. Look at what he's done in his career, who he's beat, how he boxes and how good he is. I'm his biggest fan. I'd say Usyk late stoppage, just by accumulation."

BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce: "Dubois has got a better boxing brain than people give him credit for and I can paint a case for him winning.

"But let's get this right - it will be a massive shock if he does return to the United Kingdom as unified heavyweight world champion. It will be up there with Lloyd Honeyghan beating Donald Curry nearly 37 years ago."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stats and Stakes

Oleksandr Usyk

Age: 36
Titles: IBF/WBA/IBO/WBO heavyweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense); TBRB/Ring Heavyweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)
Previous Titles: WBO Cruiserweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses); WBC Cruiserweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses); Lineal/TBRB/Ring/WBA/IBF Cruiserweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’3
Weight: 221 lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Shypyntsi, Ukraine
Record: 20-0, 13 KO (26-0, 15 KO including World Series of Boxing fights)
Press Rankings: #2 (ESPN)
Record in Title Fights: 9-0, 3 KO
Last Five Opponents: 148-17-1 (.895)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Krzysztof Glowacki UD12; Marco Huck TKO10; Mairis Briedis MD12; Murat Gassiev UD12; Anthony Joshua UD12, SD12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Tony Bellew TKO8

vs.

Daniel Dubois

Age: 25
Title: None*
Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’5
Weight: 233 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Record: 19-1, 18 KOs
Press Rankings: #4 (BoxRec)
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st title opportunity (3-0, 3 KO in WBA interim or sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 100-6 (.943)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: None
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None

*Dubois won the WBA sub-title against Trevor Bryan in 2022 and has defended once.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Live from Tarczyński Arena in Wroclaw, Poland on 26 August 2023
Usyk17 & K2 Promotions in association with Queensberry Promotions presents: Usyk vs. Dubois

ESPN+: 5 pm ET | 2 pm PT | Price: sub
TNT Sports Box Office: 6 pm BST | Price: £19.95

Fight Card

Unified WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO Heavyweight Championship
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois

12 Round Lightweight Bout
Denys Berinchyk vs. Anthony Yigit

12 Round Middleweight Bout
Dmytro Mytrofanov vs. Hamzah Sheeraz

10 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Daniel Lapin vs. Aro Schwartz

8 Round Middleweight Bout
Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs. Anauel Ngamissengue

8 round Middleweight Bout
Rafal Wolczecki vs. Roberto Arriaza

8 Round Welterweight Bout
Vasile Cebotari vs. Joel Julio

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Nursultan Amanzholov vs. Lazizbek Mullojonov

6 Round Featherweight Bout
Oleksandr Solomennikov vs. Piotr Gudel

4 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Aadam Hamed vs. Vojtech Hrdy,

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Janos Penzes

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Bryce Mills vs. Damian Tymosz

4 Round Lightweight Bout
Yaroslav Khartsyz vs. Konrad Czajkowski

[KiwiRider]

Quite a bit more entertaining than I expected.
The coverage was great too, highlights between rounds, good recaps.
And Uysk did go for it in the end, nice finish and I don't think we needed to see more of the same.

[Thomastearns]

Good learning fight for DDD.

[margaret thatcher]

dubois won maybe a round, we need the undisputed fight next

[Milney45]

Excuse my language but as an English man and not a ddd fan. Ddd was robbed, from the start I thought Usyk shorts were high. That was no way a low blow. In my eyes it was on the belly button. I used to respect usyk but him demenia after was wrong. He knew he lost that hence his approach to ddd at the end.

[thomasjkelley]

All Dubois had to do was put in minimal effort after that "low blow" & he would definitely have a rematch. I'm not saying it wasn't technically a low blow, it could have been, it looked clean to me but may have been on the pubic bone. Regardless, if it was competitive we would have a mandate for a rematch but it was so one sided, no one will ever want to see that again. Daniel seemed disinterested after round 5. I thought he was going to quit on the first kd

[margaret thatcher]

it was clearly low, most of dub's glove was below the beltline. dubs won a round tops and was out of his depth