It has been officially announced that Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight world championships against Daniel Dubois on July 19. The highly anticipated rematch is set to take place at Wembley Stadium in London.
This fight follows their initial encounter in Poland in August 2023, which saw Usyk secure a victory via ninth-round knockout. While rematches are uncommon after such a definitive result, the previous fight was marred by controversy, specifically concerning a debated `low blow` incident in the fifth round. This point of contention, vigorously promoted by Dubois` manager Frank Warren, has served as the catalyst for this second clash.
Since their first meeting, Usyk has further solidified his dominance in the division with two consecutive victories over Tyson Fury in Riyadh. Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois has successfully rebuilt his career, achieving three straight wins by stopping Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and, most significantly, Anthony Joshua. His triumph over Joshua earned Dubois the IBF heavyweight title, which Usyk had recently vacated.
Commenting on the upcoming bout, Oleksandr Usyk expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I`m grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship. Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back.”
Daniel Dubois conveyed his determination for redemption, saying, “This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk. I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgement of the referee, so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city.” He added, “I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19. I would like to thank my promoter Frank for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”
The London venue provides a fitting stage for the pair to settle any lingering disputes. Dubois was originally scheduled to face Joseph Parker in February but withdrew during fight week, which led to Parker quickly defeating Martin Bakole instead.
