Ahead of his upcoming July 19 bout against Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois seems confident of his chances to win in the rematch. Set to enter the ring 11 years Usyk’s senior at the age of 27, Dubois’ assertions of being the younger fighter is deemed to become the inevitable factor that will lead to a win; due to the assumption Usyk is steadfast declining as a fighter at 38-years old.
During their first fight in 2023, then 25-year old Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KO’s) already had the advantage of youth as he faced a 36-year old Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KO’s), though the British heavyweight (200+ lbs) was still beaten soundly following the low blow controversy that ensued during the bout.
According to a recent interview conducted with Dubois, Usyk being two years older makes all the difference between what Dubois believes will become a demolition win over the Ukrainian champion.
“He’s a 38-year-old man,” Dubois told The Ring.
“And no matter how fit and young he might feel in training, I need to bring that wear and tear out of him, and that age, and show him what a youthful, 27-year-old heavyweight can really do. I’m looking forward to showing that.“
Dubois’ statements come across as a self-admittance of the actual ability he lacks to beat Usyk, to the point where he’s only capable of defeating a potentially declined Usyk.
Notably, Oleksandr Usyk has showed little signs of declining at the age of 38, suggesting the Ukrainian fighter has taken the proper steps to maintain his peak; not dissimilar to fighters such as Artur Beterbiev and Bernard Hopkins who competed in world title fights at or after the age of 40.
Though Dubois and Usyk are set to fight for the opportunity to become undisputed as they put their respective titles [IBF in the case of Dubois, WBA, WBC & WBO for Usyk] on the line, the stain of the disputed low blow that occurred in the fight still appears to hang over Dubois like a shadow as he spoke on the incident.
“Now that I’ve looked back on it, I’ve seen it before [from Usyk], how he’s milked those situations when he’s actually been hurt,” Dubois said.
“But I’m looking to do a real demolition job on him. No comebacks, no regrets, just leave it all in the ring.”
Oleksandr Usyk had found himself in a similar situation of suffering a disputable low blow during his 2022 rematch against Anthony Joshua. The 2022 fight, which was officiated by referee Luis Pabon who also refereed the Usyk vs. Dubois I fight, saw Usyk given reprieve as a borderline body shot from Joshua allowed the Ukrainian champion several seconds to recover.
The situation would be mirrored a year later in the 2023 Usyk-Dubois fight that led to a controversial knockdown that was discounted as the shot that dropped Usyk was deemed a low blow.
Despite the controversy, Daniel Dubois failed to assert himself after Usyk’s recovery and he was eventually stopped in the 9th round by what appeared to be a jab.
