Ukrainian heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, is set to defend his WBO, WBA (Super), and IBF titles against British boxer Daniel Dubois on 26 August. The highly-anticipated bout will take place at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, with a capacity of 24,000 spectators.
Dubois, 25, holds the WBA (Regular) belt and boasts an impressive record of 19 victories, with 18 of them coming by knockout. He suffered only one defeat in his professional career.
Expressing his determination, Dubois said, “He is a great fighter and I do respect him, but it’s my time now. I’m going to shock the world and show people how good Daniel Dubois really is.”
Usyk, considered a pound-for-pound star, remains undefeated in all 20 of his professional fights. This will be his second defense of the unified title. Reflecting on the upcoming match, Usyk expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to fight in Poland, where he won his first world title seven years ago.
Originally scheduled for 12 August, the fight was rescheduled to align closely with Ukraine’s Independence Day, celebrated on 24 August. The decision aims to honor the occasion and accommodate the more than one million Ukrainian refugees who have found sanctuary in Poland following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Usyk expressed his gratitude towards the Polish people, stating, “I want to thank the Polish people who are helping Ukraine so sincerely. Hundreds of thousands of my compatriots have been hosted by this wonderful country. Therefore, I hope that my fight will become one more opportunity for Ukrainians and people of Poland to unite and strengthen our friendship.”
While an undisputed fight between Usyk and British WBC world champion Tyson Fury faced setbacks, Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, remains hopeful that a victory against Dubois will pave the way for a future showdown with Fury.
Daniel Dubois, who recently switched trainers, has transformed from a promising prospect to a world-title challenger. Despite a setback against Joe Joyce in 2020, Dubois has rebounded with impressive victories and secured the WBA (Regular) title. Promoter Frank Warren expressed confidence in Dubois’s ability to cause an upset and achieve his long-held aspirations.
The Usyk vs. Dubois bout promises to be a thrilling clash of heavyweight talents and a significant event in the boxing world.
