It may have flown under the radar for most casual followers of sport and professional boxing, but world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is nearing a return to the ring. The towering Ukrainian enjoys as close to a homecoming fight as possible when meeting Britain’s Daniel Dubois in Poland this summer. Boxing in Ukraine remains an unnecessary risk while war rages in the region. Hence the fight is happening in Wroclaw.
Do you expect Daniel to continue his winning ways by shocking the world and leaving Poland with the belts? Perhaps you prefer to stick with the unbeaten champion and back the form fighter at the top online betting sites. Usyk is the early favorite, with traders offering odds that suggest the Ukrainian need only turn up to get the job done.
Usyk faces another Brit
Usyk won the world heavyweight title convincingly over Britain’s Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before franking the form with victory in the rematch in Saudi Arabia. But could an up-and-coming fighter from London be the man to take the belts back to Britain?
Dubois and his team hope so, but nothing will come easy for the man boxing out of the away corner. Many respected pundits believe Dynamite Dubois has one hope: to knock out the champion.
As any follower of professional boxing knows, anything can happen in this game. That’s especially true of heavyweight boxing, where one punch can change the course of a bout.
Usyk v Dubois info
Four versions of the world heavyweight title are on the line in Poland, with the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO belts awarded to the winner. Usyk is the reigning champion, and Dubois is the challenger. A rematch clause in the contract says that if Dynamite does the unthinkable, he must make his first defense against Usyk in a rematch before seeking a potential UK super-fight with Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua next year.
The Stadion Wroclaw hosts the event on Saturday, 26th August, with the main event due for a 22:00 GMT start. The bout will play out before a capacity crowd of thousands while millions more watch on TV and live-streaming apps. View Usyk v Dubois live on TV from home or on the move using your smartphone.
Usyk is an unbeaten fighter with 20 wins from as many contests. Dubois has lost just one of his previous 20 bouts but has more experience in the heavyweight division and carries a fearsome 90% knockout ratio.
Can he turn the tables on the champion, using his incredible power to shock the world and bring the belts to the UK?
The champion arrives in form
Usyk brings a perfect professional boxing CV with 20 wins and 13 knockouts. He debuted at cruiserweight in 2013 with a fifth-round stoppage after a glittering career in the amateurs, culminating in winning the 2012 Olympic gold in London.
Oleksandr has since climbed the rankings to dominate at cruiserweight and become the unified champion before relinquishing his belts. He’s now at heavyweight and became one of only a few fighters to win world titles at cruiser and heavy. He beat Joshua unanimously and edged the Londoner on a split decision in the rematch.
Despite carrying a 65% KO average, most of his KO wins were at cruiserweight, and he has stopped just one at heavyweight. Will Dubois prove to be his second victim? Oleksandr was last in action beating Joshua in Saudi Arabia last August.
Will a year out of the ring impact his chances against a younger challenger?
Dynamite brings the power
Dynamite Daniel Dubois was written off by all corners, including ex-fighters and pundits, but he has a puncher’s chance. The 25-year-old Londoner fighting out of the Peacock Gym has claimed 18 of 19 wins by stoppage, and that power will be on show again in Poland.
Dubois isn’t as skilled or technical as the man standing in the opposite corner on fight night. But his stats show he is the stronger fighter who spends much of his time on the attack, landing hard blows with both hands. Supporters know the size of the challenge that faces Dubois in Poland, but he has what’s known in the fight game as the great equalizer; that raw power and knockout form.
Daniel’s last fight was a third-round stoppage win over Kevin Lerena at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in December. That means the challenger has been more active than the champion, although neither man has fought this year, making their 2023 debut in Poland. His last four wins have been by knockout in the opening four rounds.
Keep your eye on the unassuming 25-year-old, especially during the early stages when he’s most dangerous.
Making predictions
How do you expect this fight to play out in Poland? The crowd and most pundits will be there to support the champion, and the early sportsbook odds make Usyk an easy winner. Will you follow the crowd and support the champion, or take a shot on the underdog, hoping Dubois can land his power shots and shock the world?
Make predictions on the bout’s winner or showcase your fight-game knowledge by playing the specials. How many rounds will the fight last? Will there be a knockout in the opening round? Will both fighters be knocked down during the bout? There are dozens of unique ways to approach Usyk v Dubois.
According to the stats, the most likely outcome is a points victory for Usyk. The champion has won his last three on points, and another is likely. The challenger is on a run of KO wins, and the experts believe that power represents his best chance.
Claim your big-fight bonus
The leading online sportsbooks offer odds and bonuses on Usyk v Dubois, allowing fight fans to make predictions and place bets. The leading apps gift all new customers a welcome bonus free bet. Register with a sportsbook, make your first deposit, and bet to claim a free bet.
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