Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are just over a week away from battling it out for the undisputed heavyweight championship. British boxing legend Naseem Hamed has weighed in on how it might play out.
Usyk and Dubois will be fighting for the second time when they trade blows at Wembley Stadium next week, having faced off in Poland back in 2023.
In that fight, Dubois – who was challenging for the unified heavyweight titles in his first true step up to world level – thought he had some success when the champion touched the canvas before the shot was ruled low. When Usyk recovered, he took back control and stopped the Brit in the ninth round.
A lot has happened since then. Usyk became undisputed champion with a win over Tyson Fury, though vacated the IBF belt to honour a rematch. A resurgent Dubois picked that title up and defended with the knockout of his career against Anthony Joshua.
Speaking with The Stomping Ground, ‘Prince Nas’ confidently backed the Brit to continue his run of form and become the first man to beat Usyk.
“Triple D baby all day, every day.
In my eyes, Triple D is the only one who has ever hurt Usyk and put him down on the floor and made him think, and he was down there for like three, four minutes.
Who’s to say once he fights Usyk again he won’t go out there and absolutely destroy him and bring our belts back to our country like it’s supposed to be.”
Many heavyweights are waiting to see what might happen in the aftermath, with Usyk just one more fight away from retirement and, even if Dubois wins, a high chance that one or two of the belts may become vacant.