Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois preview
This Saturday marks the upcoming bout between the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk, who will be defending his heavyweight titles (WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO), and Daniel Dubois.
Notably, this contest follows Usyk’s successful defence of these titles in his successful rematch against Anthony Joshua last August.
Following victory over Joshua, there was considerable anticipation for a potential bout between Usyk and WBC champion Tyson Fury, which would have unified the heavyweight division. However, such a clash seems to have been ruled out for now, as Fury is actively preparing for a match against Francis Ngannou scheduled in the coming months.
Contrary to the anticipated match with Fury, Usyk is now set to face Daniel Dubois, an obligatory challenger with a noteworthy record. Dubois boasts a 19-1 card, with an impressive 18 knockouts to his name. His sole defeat came in a 10th round knockout by Joe Joyce in 2020. In his most recent appearance, Dubois delivered a commanding performance by defeating Kevin Lerena on the undercard of the Fury vs. Chisora 3 event in December.
Difficult to look past Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk emerged as one of the globe’s top pound-for-pound boxers when he made the transition to the heavyweight division in 2019.
Having reigned over the cruiserweight division for a substantial period, including impressive wins against notable opponents such as Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew, Usyk’s move to heavyweight raised concerns about how he would handle the formidable power of the division’s elite. However, he defied these apprehensions in a resounding manner.
His entry into the heavyweight category began with a victory over Chazz Witherspoon, who stepped in as a replacement for Tyrone Spon following a failed drug test. Despite Witherspoon’s 38-3 professional record, Usyk showcased his superiority, prompting Witherspoon to retire in his corner after the seventh round.
In a subsequent encounter at Wembley in November 2020, Usyk faced Derek Chisora and surrendered nearly 40 pounds in weight. Although encountering some challenges in the initial rounds, his exceptional footwork, speed, and technical prowess prevailed, leading to a unanimous decision victory.
The Ukrainian athlete then astounded expectations by comprehensively outscoring Anthony Joshua at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the following year, securing the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO belts and sending shockwaves through the heavyweight ranks.
Despite a rematch where he triumphed via a split decision in Saudi Arabia the subsequent summer, many observers believed Usyk’s performance warranted a unanimous outcome.
With an impeccable 20-0 record, Usyk is undoubtedly the favoured contender to face Dubois this Saturday. Notably, he holds odds of 1/2 for a victory by KO, TKO, or DQ. However, it’s important to mention that since moving up in weight, Usyk hasn’t achieved knockouts against his opponents.
While Witherspoon retired in his corner, both Chisora and Joshua engaged in full-fledged battles with Usyk throughout 12 rounds. This serves as a positive indicator for Dubois’ potential to endure the distance in Poland this weekend. Dubois has suffered only one loss in his professional career, a 10th round stoppage against Joe Joyce in November 2020, stemming from a significant eye injury rather than a KO or TKO. This implies Dubois possesses a resilient chin and might hold his ground against Usyk, though he is a heavy outsider at 6/1 for victory, with Usyk 1/10 to win outright.
