Daniel Dubois has vowed to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement when the two heavyweight rivals clash at Wembley over undisputed gold.
Usyk, 38, appears on the verge of hanging up the gloves, with this week’s shock split from long-term promoter Alexander Krassyuk only fuelling speculation regarding the Ukranian’s future.
IBF champion Dubois, 27, is therefore not only chasing Usyk’s WBA, WBO and WBC titles, but will also seek the scalp of retiring the legendary bruiser – a moment that could be seen as poetic justice after coming out on the losing end of their controversial first fight in 2023.
When asked if he thought their July 19 bout could be the last Usyk has, he told Sky Sports: “Probably, possibly yes, I’m going in there to do as much damage as possible.
“These things are happening for a reason and I’m just going to be ready to take the titles away from him. But all these things are happening for a reason.”
Usyk last fought in December, outpointing Tyson Fury for the second time in seven months to retain the unified heavyweight titles. In their first fight, last May, Usyk became the division’s first undisputed champion in 24 years.
After their first bout, he vacated the IBF belt to avoid a mandatory defence and enable a rematch with Fury, meaning interim champion Dubois was elevated to regular champion.
Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September to retain the IBF title, before withdrawing from a February defence against Joseph Parker due to illness.
Two days later, Parker stopped Dubois’s replacement Martin Bakole, but his clash with “Dynamite” was not reorganised. Instead, Dubois moved on to his upcoming rematch with Usyk, who is undefeated as a pro.
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In their first bout, in 2023, Usyk climbed off the canvas after a low blow by Dubois, before stopping the Briton in round nine. Dubois’s team appealed the result, claiming the low blow was a legal body shot, but to no avail.
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