Oleksandr Usyk has had a whirlwind 12 months on the prime of boxing’s heavyweight division and can face one other formidable problem when he takes on Daniel Dubois in a much-anticipated rematch.
In Might 2024, Usyk grew to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when he beat Tyson Fury in a struggle for the ages, however needed to vacate one among his belts a month later.
The person who took that belt was his different nice rival in Dubois, a fighter he defeated in a controversial bout two years in the past, and who’s now difficult the undefeated Ukrainian for the remainder of his world titles in a spectacular unification showdown.
Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to learn about Usyk vs Dubois 2:
What’s the date and begin time for the Usyk vs Dubois struggle?
The struggle is scheduled for Saturday, July 19.
Usyk and Dubois are anticipated to undertake their ring walks at 9:45pm native time (20:45 GMT), which is 4:45pm ET and 1:45pm PT. The struggle will start shortly thereafter.
The place is Dubois vs Usyk being held?
The well-known Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom will host the blockbuster struggle.
For boxing matches, Wembley Stadium can maintain as much as 96,000 spectators.
The place can I comply with and watch the Usyk vs Dubois title struggle?
Al Jazeera’s live text commentary and photo coverage will start at 17:00 GMT on Saturday, July 19. We’ll convey you all of the pre-fight speaking factors, evaluation and build-up earlier than bringing you Usyk-Dubois 2 updates reside.
This entire struggle card shall be obtainable reside worldwide solely on DAZN pay-per-view.
Which titles are Usyk and Dubois combating for?
The conflict shall be an undisputed championship struggle, and the titles on the road shall be Usyk’s WBC, WBA and WBO belts, as nicely the IBF title held by Dubois.
It’s simply the second undisputed heavyweight championship bout of the previous twenty years.
What’s the struggle purse?
The record-breaking prize cash for the rematch is reported to be $203m.
Why did Usyk lose his IBF title?
In Might 2024, Usyk received the world’s first undisputed heavyweight championship in 25 years, an unprecedented feat in boxing’s four-belt period, when he beat Fury by cut up choice.
Nonetheless, having determined to not defend the IBF crown in opposition to then-interim champion and obligatory challenger Dubois, Usyk vacated the belt in June and was left with the WBC, WBA and WBO belts.
Who’s the favorite?
Usyk is extensively anticipated to defeat Dubois a second time, in line with most main bookmakers who’re quoting the Ukrainian at 1/3 on, or in metric phrases, paying out $1.33 for the win.
Odds on a Dubois victory at the moment vary from 5/2 ($2.50) to 13/5 ($2.60).
Who’s Daniel Dubois?
Dubois was born in Greenwich, London, the place his father started coaching him as a boxer at an early age. A house-schooled baby, Dubois cherished boxing and later joined boxing golf equipment in southern London.
Often known as Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois, the boxer turned professional on the age of 19.
The 6ft-4inch (1.93-metre) boxer has gained the popularity of being a giant-killer, having defeated fellow Briton Anthony Joshua and Olympic bronze medallist Filip Hrgovic of Croatia.
Who’s Oleksandr Usyk?
Usyk is a 2012 Olympic gold medallist from Ukraine who had beforehand received the AIBA World Boxing Championship in 2011.
The 6ft-3inch (1.9-metre) tall fighter has hung out on patrol at dwelling throughout Russia’s battle on Ukraine.
He turned skilled in 2013, aged 26 and made a gentle rise within the cruiserweight division, earlier than switching to heavyweight in 2019.
Saturday’s struggle offers Usyk the chance to grow to be the undisputed champion of the world for the third time, having additionally held the title within the cruiserweight division in 2018. The southpaw is the third man ever to have held the title in two weight divisions.
What’s Usyk’s struggle document?
The Ukrainian stays unbeaten in his skilled profession.
- Fights: 23
- Wins: 23
- Wins by KO: 14
What’s Dubois’ struggle document?
The 27-year-old challenger, regardless of being 11 years youthful than Usyk, has extra profession skilled fights than his opponent.
- Fights: 24
- Wins: 22
- Wins by KO: 21
- Losses: 2
What occurred in Dubois-Usyk 1?
The pair fought for the primary time in Wroclaw, Poland in August 2023, when Usyk stopped Dubois within the ninth spherical, however solely after controversially getting time to get better from what was adjudged a low blow by Dubois within the fifth spherical.
It despatched Usyk to the canvas, the place he sat in opposition to the ropes. Replays confirmed the punch hitting round Usyk’s belt, and Dubois nonetheless maintains he was robbed.
“I wish to get my rematch,” Dubois mentioned of Usyk, “and put the mistaken proper.”
What has Usyk mentioned concerning the rematch?
The 38-year-old mentioned that he’s able to “grow to be undisputed once more,” referring to the reunification of all heavyweight titles he held after beating Fury on Might 18, 2024.
“[I am still boxing] as a result of Jesus offers me the chance, and I take this,” Usyk mentioned in an interview on host broadcaster streaming platform DAZN. “Now my objective is to grow to be a three-time undisputed. Pay attention, I really like boxing, coaching arduous. I assume it’s my final two fights, with Dubois and subsequent, I don’t know who.”
“I really like my British opponents,” Usyk added. “I believe Daniel is an effective athlete, an excellent boxer, and has good expertise. He has had nice wins in his final three fights, is a good fighter. I believe Daniel deserves [the rematch].”
What has Dubois mentioned concerning the rematch?
Dubois has pledged to actual revenge on the Ukrainian fighter.
“I can’t wait to place him [Usyk] to sleep,” mentioned Dubois.
“I’m on hearth now. I’m simply pent up. I’m able to go. It’s going to be a massacre … within the ring on the evening, he’ll be doing a humorous dance after I hit him.
“We don’t care about no physique photographs. We’re going to knock him out on July 19.”
The Brit has repeatedly said that he’s a “10 instances higher” fighter than he was in his first struggle in opposition to Usyk and is able to “unleash hell”.
Why did Dubois’ coach accuse Usyk of ‘conning the boxing world’ of their first struggle in Poland?
The British fighter’s coach accused Usyk of “conning the boxing world” on the pre-fight information convention in April.
Referring to Usyk’s 2023 struggle in opposition to Dubois, Don Charles accused the Ukrainian of being harm by a authorized physique shot and mentioned his fighter ought to have received the encounter.
“The actions you probably did that evening, you’ve heard of the Oscars? It is best to’ve received an Oscar,” Charles mentioned.
“You conned the referee, you conned us, and also you conned the boxing world.
“You satisfaction your self as a God-fearing man – ‘Thou shalt not lie’ – so I query what sort of God do you worship? The God has summoned you for our son Daniel Dubois to get revenge on you.”
How did Usyk reply to the accusation?
Usyk shrugged off accusations of dishonest and fakery and mentioned he was able to grow to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world for a second time.
“I’m prepared proper now,” Usyk informed a information convention at Wembley Stadium.
Usyk, smiling, mentioned the Oscar could be coming. “You will need to educate your fighter to punch clear,” he added.
“It’s simply speaking. For me, it doesn’t matter.”
Usyk’s supervisor, Egis Klimas, mentioned after that images of the blow had been produced, with the Ukrainian’s camp accusing Dubois of as much as 20 low blows, Usyk couldn’t be accused of dishonest.
“Don’t name my man a cheat,” he mentioned. “He didn’t cheat. He had a possibility to relaxation and he rested … inform it to the referee, not my man.”
Who’s on the undercard?
Within the penultimate struggle of the evening, the UK’s Lawrence Okolie will defend his WBC silver heavyweight title in opposition to former world champ Kevin Lerena of South Africa.
Within the mild heavyweight classification, Poland’s Daniel Lapin will put his IBF intercontinental and WBA continental belts up for grabs in opposition to one other native fighter, Lewis Edmondson.
The primary bout is scheduled for five:40pm native (16:40 GMT).
- Lawrence Okolie vs. Kevin Lerena: (WBC silver heavyweight title)
- Daniel Lapin vs. Lewis Edmondson: (IBF Intercontinental and WBA Continental mild heavyweight titles)
- Vladyslav Sirenko vs. Solomon Dacres: (Heavyweight division)
- Aadam Hamed vs. Ezequiel Gregores: (Tremendous light-weight division)
- Lasha Guruli vs. James Francis: (Tremendous light-weight division)