Daniel Dubois will have a second attempt at defeating Oleksandr Usyk, this time for the undisputed world titles.
Daniel Dubois first fought Oleksandr Usyk in 2023. He was outclassed and stopped in the ninth round, with many believing he quit.
Besides the low blow controversy, which Usyk will seek to shut down, Dubois was clearly levels below the Ukrainian pound-for-pound talent.
Just one fight before facing Usyk, Dubois was dropped multiple times by a cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight, and many believe, despite his wins over Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, that he will be denied on July 19th.
Daniel Dubois weighs in on Kevin Lerena vs Lawrence Okolie
In 2022, Dubois faced Kevin Lerena on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora 3.
It was Dubois’ final fight with trainer Shane McGuigan, and saw a knee injury impair Dubois’ ability from the opening bell.
Lerena dropped Dubois three times in the first round, before the Brit regained his composure, going on to stop the South African in round three.
Lerena is now set to fight Lawrence Okolie, who has had just one fight in the heavyweight division, which he won by first-round KO.
Okolie was meant to fight Richard Riakporhe, who was moving up to the glamor division, but the fight fell apart when Okolie withdrew with injury.
Speaking on the fight, Dubois said: “That’s a good fight, a good match-up […] I’d favor Okolie.”
Lawrence Okolie lost in the messiest cruiserweight fight ever
Before his heavyweight debut, Okolie claimed the bridgerweight title with a one-round blitz of Lukasz Rozanski.
Before that, Okolie was a cruiserweight champion, and, in 2023, went into his final fight in the division, when he faced Chris Billam-Smith.
The fight was an extremely awkward and messy affair, with Okolie being dropped three times over the 12 rounds.
Okolie was also deducted two points for excessive holding in the fifth and seventh rounds, meaning he lost a total of five points in the fight.
Despite the deductions, Okolie lost a close majority decision.