Oleksandr Usyk will rematch Daniel Dubois on July 19th at Wembley Stadium, London.
Oleksandr Usyk has done the double on Tyson Fury, he’s done the double on Anthony Joshua, and on July 19th could well do the double on Daniel Dubois.
Usyk has a collection of British fighters on his resume now, with just one of his last eight opponents being non-British, Chazz Witherspoon, his heavyweight debut opponent.
Despite his Brit-bashing reputation, when Usyk revealed the opponent he disliked most, it was not any he faced in the United Kingdom.
Marco Huck is the only opponent Oleksandr Usyk genuinely dislikes
In 2017, five months removed from a win over Michael Hunter, 12-0 Usyk faced 40-4-1 Marco Huck.
Huck had lost only to Alexander Povetkin, who KO’d Dillian Whyte, Steve Cunningham, who dropped Fury, Krzysztof Glowacki, who Usyk beat before facing Huck, and Mairis Briedis, who Usyk beat one fight after facing Huck.
The fight took place as part of the World Boxing Super Series quarter-finals and saw Huck succumb to Usyk’s pressure in the 10th round, with the referee waving off the fight.
Speaking to Carl Frampton ahead of his rematch with Dubois, Usyk, who may fight Fury again, spoke on his biggest weakness, which soon moved into him discussing his dislike of Huck.
“My weakness – I love people. I love my opponent. Only one of my opponents I don’t love is Marco Huck. […] Bad guy because this man say bad words for my mama. Listen… it’s bad.”
Huck fought three more times after losing to Usyk, but returned after a four-year hiatus with a win in 2024.
Oleksandr Usyk may be the ultimate road warrior
In boxing, a ‘road warrior’ is someone who makes a name for themselves fighting outside of their home country, on enemy turf.
Whilst the Anthony Joshua’s of the world fight primarily in their home country to appeal to their fanbase, Usyk forged another path, building his fanbase around the world.
Usyk has fought every high-stakes bout away from home, with the closest being his first win over Dubois in Poland.
He has faced Glowacki in Poland, Hunter in America, Huck in Germany, Brieidis in Latvia, Gassiev in Russia, and Tony Bellew and AJ in England.