BoxRec

Oleksandr Usyk could take on Daniel Dubois in an undisputed heavyweight world title fight next

Oleksandr Usyk could take on Daniel Dubois in an undisputed heavyweight world title fight next - and Wembley Stadium is an option for the blockbuster rematch.

Ukraine's unified world titlist Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in May of last year to become boxing's first undisputed heavyweight world champion in 25 years, the first since Lennox Lewis and the first of the four-belt era.

But his commitment to a rematch with Fury meant he could not make a mandatory defence of the IBF title against Britain's Dubois.

That saw him vacate the belt and Dubois was upgraded from IBF Interim titlist to full world champion.

Dubois defended that title when he knocked out former champion Anthony Joshua in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium in September.

In December the IBF holder was ringside to see Usyk defend his unified WBC, WBO and WBA belts when he outscored Fury in their rematch.

After the result was announced, Dubois stormed into the ring to demand his own fight with Usyk.

Talks are ongoing for Usyk to meet Dubois in a second undisputed heavyweight world title fight and Wembley Stadium in London could host the event.

Alexander Krassyuk, Usyk's promoter, told Sky Sports: "We are now working on this fight [Usyk vs Dubois II], Wembley as one of the options."

Dubois challenged Usyk in 2023, losing inside nine rounds but only after sending Usyk to the canvas with a blow that the referee ruled low. Dubois and his team still consider that decision unfair and the British heavyweight wants his chance at revenge.

Dubois was due to make a defence of his IBF title against Joseph Parker in February, but an illness forced him to withdraw from that bout.

But that would have been a voluntary defence and there are no impediments to him going straight into an undisputed championship fight.

Calling for the Usyk rematch, Dubois previously told Sky Sports he wanted to "run it back".

"My next fight I'm working towards, I'm ready for it now," he insisted of Usyk.

"I've got to be even better than I was against AJ. That was just what it was at the time. A special moment but I need to be even better than I was.

"Still the kingslayer. I'm the man that beat the man. Bring them on."

Don't think there are many great options for Uysk, already beaten DDD, Fury twice, AJ twice.
Going after the likes of Parker aren't big sellers

Honestly I don’t wanna see it.

I mean, I know Ishk wants to be a 2-time undisputed HW champion.

But he never lost the IBF.

I still wanna see Dubois-Parker.

It’s shit like this why Turki has probably gone with Dana.

'We are working on Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois II'

The proposed rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, for the undisputed heavyweight title, could be bound for London’s Wembley Stadium, according to Usyk’s promoter.

Usyk and Dubois first fought for the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in August 2023, when, following controversy regarding a punch thrown by Dubois that was ruled low, Usyk won via stoppage.

Dubois, 27, has since admirably rebuilt via stoppages of Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, in so doing earning and defending the IBF title that Usyk vacated between his victories over Tyson Fury.

It was at the conclusion of the second of those victories, in December, that Dubois confronted the 38-year-old Usyk and demanded a rematch. Dubois was to defend his title against Joseph Parker on February 22, until illness forced his withdrawal during fight week, but instead of a fight with Parker being rescheduled the priority of both camps appears to be agreeing Usyk-Dubois II.

“We are now working on this fight [Usyk vs Dubois II],” Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “Wembley as one of the options.”

Dubois, who on Sunday was named the British Boxing Board of Control’s boxer of the year for 2024 – his trainer Don Charles was awarded the trainer’s equivalent – had previously told the same news outlet: “My next fight I’m working towards. I’m ready for it now.

“I’ve got to be even better than I was against ‘AJ’. That was just what it was at the time. A special moment but I need to be even better than I was.

“Still the kingslayer. I’m the man that beat the man. Bring them on.”

When receiving his award, Charles had said: “Daniel Dubois [has] set the whole scene alight. But it’s not complete. There’s so much more work to do.”

A rare (first?) dumb move from Usyk if he takes this rematch. All downside other than money he doesn't need. He'll get caught sweet one day, they all do when they drag their careers out too long and it massively impacts legacy. Retirement is the only sensible option at 39.

His legacy needs at least 3 or 4 more fights.

I'm usually dead set against rematches but Dubois thoroughly deserves another go. He's the number 1. There are a few just behind.

It's rare that we get genuine number 1's, the last two were Povetkin and Whyte.

My strategy for Dubois winning would be work the body like a demon, Kabayel style.

The fight with Parker fell through but I'd match Parker with Kabayel and you'd have the next number 1 after that.*





*My rankings are totally independant and corruption-free

Jimmy2025 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 10:11 A rare (first?) dumb move from Usyk if he takes this rematch. All downside other than money he doesn't need. He'll get caught sweet one day, they all do when they drag their careers out too long and it massively impacts legacy. Retirement is the only sensible option at 39.

You could say he's completed boxing.

He's done way more than others that retired undefeated.

Wembley is ambitious for this.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 10:30 Wembley is ambitious for this.

Would you prefer an arena?

Waste of a fight. Frank giving Turki bad advice which helps line his own pockets, shock.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 10:45

mickey1975 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 10:30 Wembley is ambitious for this.

Would you prefer an arena?

I'm not bothered myself, I won't be going.

funso banjo baby wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 10:21 His legacy needs at least 3 or 4 more fights.

I disagree. He ruled a tough cruiserweight division on the road and then cleaned the heavyweights of his era, again, on the road. Almost always the B-side.

That's before we talk about his amateur career.

He is never going to have an Ali or Lewis resume at heavyweight, he's too old.

If he goes now he's somewhere between 5 and 10 in the all time HW rankings and number 1 in the cruiserweight rankings. Some achievement.

joshj909 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 11:07 Waste of a fight. Frank giving Turki bad advice which helps line his own pockets, shock.

X2

Also, Dubois ducked Parker.

I hope Usyk sees some sense and faces Parker or Kabayel instead. Let's see if Dubois faces the other one, I doubt he does.

I sense its more about the belts and undisputed status rather than $$$ for usyk .

and of course the chance to prove beyond any doubt he is the numero uno - given all the bollox from dd and Fw / the low blow that they whined about etc .

Lost very round and still thinks he was robbed FFS

I'm just not interested in this fight.
Dubois hasn't earned it, and I feel like he ducked Parker.
The poll says it all, no chance anyone thinks this is going to be close and I voted draw because I can't be bothered.
Kabayal vs Uysk
Dubois vs Parker
Double header.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 14:24 I'm just not interested in this fight.
Dubois hasn't earned it, and I feel like he ducked Parker.
The poll says it all, no chance anyone thinks this is going to be close and I voted draw because I can't be bothered.
Kabayal vs Uysk
Dubois vs Parker
Double header.

My opinion is that he ducked Parker too. Seems fairly obvious. The radio silence speaks volumes. I wonder if they have him locked in a cellar?

KiwiRider wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 14:24 I'm just not interested in this fight.
Dubois hasn't earned it, and I feel like he ducked Parker.
The poll says it all, no chance anyone thinks this is going to be close and I voted draw because I can't be bothered.
Kabayal vs Uysk
Dubois vs Parker
Double header.

Usyk vs either Parker or Kabayel with Dubois facing the other is much more appealing to 99% of fans.

Jimmy2025 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 14:26

KiwiRider wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 14:24 I'm just not interested in this fight.
Dubois hasn't earned it, and I feel like he ducked Parker.
The poll says it all, no chance anyone thinks this is going to be close and I voted draw because I can't be bothered.
Kabayal vs Uysk
Dubois vs Parker
Double header.

My opinion is that he ducked Parker too. Seems fairly obvious. The radio silence speaks volumes. I wonder if they have him locked in a cellar?

Well I don't know if he ducked Parker or not, but it feels a bit like it. To be calling out Uysk in the ring, when he should have been focusing on Parker, and then the 11 hour pull out and complete silence from Dubois since. And now this fight is being bandied about?
Usually a fighter posts to socials within a few days of a pull out and talks about it.
Dubois was gifted a belt from a guy who beat him conclusively. Sure Daniel beat AJ. But at this juncture of AJ's career, I would put money on either Parker or Kabayal doing the same.

Jimmy2025 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 11:41

joshj909 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 11:07 Waste of a fight. Frank giving Turki bad advice which helps line his own pockets, shock.

X2

X3
Joke isn't it

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 08:58 Oleksandr Usyk could take on Daniel Dubois in an undisputed heavyweight world title fight next

Oleksandr Usyk could take on Daniel Dubois in an undisputed heavyweight world title fight next - and Wembley Stadium is an option for the blockbuster rematch.

You should have led with a poll of who actually wants to see this fight next

Disappointing we are getting served up another rematch when there are other worthy contenders like Parker and Kabayel

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 09:09 Honestly I don’t wanna see it.
...
It’s shit like this why Turki has probably gone with Dana.

Hadn't thought about that. You could be right.

Edit: actually, Turki should be careful. Frank has been at this far longer than him. I can see Frank pulling a fast one here in the UK (ref, judges, the lot). Hard to legitimise a UFC style system if Frank controls all the heavyweight titles...

If DD pulled out of the Parker fight because he heard that he'd have a chance to fight Usyk for all the belts and earn bigger money then you can't really blame him for doing so. It might not have been the honourable thing to do but honour is a commodity very rarely shown in boxing

I don't think that's ducking someone either.

waste of a fight, we get 2 more for usyk and 1 is a guy he already beat? rather than a fresh matchup vs a deserving challenger like kaybael or parker? and dubs of course could take the other guy in another fresh fight

the undisputed angle is laughable too, who cares. usyk already had the belts and ditched the ibf for his pair of leftovers to fighter over

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑12 Mar 2025, 19:33 waste of a fight, we get 2 more for usyk and 1 is a guy he already beat? rather than a fresh matchup vs a deserving challenger like kaybael or parker? and dubs of course could take the other guy in another fresh fight

the undisputed angle is laughable too, who cares. usyk already had the belts and ditched the ibf for his pair of leftovers to fighter over

Yeah, and when Uysk was asked after the Fury fight "who's next?" He deferred to Turki.
Kinda says he is going for the top dollars and doesn't care who. Can't blame him, but I did expect him to use his final two fights for legacy just because he has talked about that.

WBO have ordered Usyk to defend against Parker!

So he may need to vacate the WBO to fight Dubois, meaning it won’t be for undisputed.

OLEKSANDR USYK VS. JOSEPH PARKER: MANDATORY FIGHT IS ORDERED BY THE WBO

World Boxing Organization president Gustavo Olivieri has revealed that his organization is ordering their world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, to make a mandatory defense against interim-champion Joseph Parker.

"WBO is officially ordering the enforcement of the WBO Mandatory between Usyk & Parker to expeditiously terminate the Interim Champion status. This action aligns with our firm policy of maintaining only one champion per weight class," Olivieri stated on social media.

Parker was in action last month in Riyadh, when he knocked out late-replacement Martin Bakole in two rounds.

Usyk retained his Ring, WBO, IBO, WBC, WBA titles when he secured a twelve round decision win over Tyson Fury in their December rematch, which also took place in Riyadh.

The WBO has given Usyk and Parker 30 days to reach an agreement before a purse bid is called.

Earlier today, Sky Sports reported that Usyk's team had begun discussions for a potential unification clash with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois. The recent order by the WBO has certainly created a hurdle for that potential matchup.

Both Dubois and Parker are promoted by allegedly of Queensberry Promotions. The two boxers were scheduled to collide last month in Riyadh, but Dubois withdrew during fight week with an illness - which led to Bakole accepting the fight on two days notice.