July 19, (THEWILL) — Daniel Dubois will attempt to pull off one of boxing’s greatest upsets when he faces Oleksandr Usyk for all four heavyweight world titles at Wembley Stadium tonight. The 27-year-old Londoner holds the IBF belt after Usyk vacated it, but now confronts the Ukrainian who knocked him out in their previous encounter two years ago. Victory would make Dubois only the second fighter in recent history to unify all major heavyweight championships, following Usyk’s own achievement.
The rematch carries extra significance given their controversial first meeting in 2023, when Dubois suffered a fifth-round stoppage after being floored by what many considered a low blow. Since then, the Englishman has rebuilt his reputation with devastating knockout victories, most notably stopping Anthony Joshua in five rounds last September. That performance elevated Dubois to number two in the world rankings and demonstrated the improved power that makes him dangerous against any opponent.
Usyk enters the contest with an unblemished 23-fight professional record and widespread recognition as boxing’s pound-for-pound king. The 38-year-old southpaw has defeated every elite heavyweight he has faced, including consecutive victories over Anthony Joshua and a pair of wins against Tyson Fury earlier this year. Mexican superstar Canelo Álvarez has publicly backed the champion with a $500,000 wager, though Dubois remains confident of causing a major shock.
The challenger’s knockout ratio of 91 per cent gives him a puncher’s chance against any fighter, with only Kevin Johnson managing to take him the full distance in his 24-fight career. Dubois believes his youth advantage and recent improvements in technique will prove decisive when the opening bell sounds. “I’m a young lion and I have to take the reins,” he said during fight week preparations.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas acknowledged the threat posed by his fighter’s opponent, noting that Dubois had already hurt the champion in their first encounter. The Ukrainian will need to avoid the early exchanges that could favour his bigger, stronger challenger whilst utilising the superior boxing skills that have carried him through an amateur and professional career without defeat. Tonight’s winner will cement their status as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
