Daniel Dubois believes Oleksandr Usyk is nearing retirement and is determined to be the one to end his career.
The two fighters are set to face off for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium next month.
Usyk recently parting ways with his long-time promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, is seen by Dubois as a sign that the Ukrainian champion is close to retiring from boxing.
Dubois, seeking redemption after his 2023 loss to Usyk, aims to be the fighter who retires him. He speculates that their upcoming July 19 rematch could be Usyk`s final bout.
“Probably, possibly yes,” Dubois stated. “I`m going in there to do as much damage as possible.”
He added,
“These things are happening for a reason, and I`m just going to be ready to take the titles away from him. All these things are happening for a reason.”
Dubois views the prospect of Usyk considering retirement as a potential vulnerability. Fighters contemplating retirement can sometimes be less resilient against focused, younger opponents.
Defeating Usyk, however, would be an immense accomplishment. The exceptional Ukrainian boxer is an Olympic gold medalist with an undefeated professional record and is already considered one of the sport`s greats.
Usyk`s Legacy in Boxing
According to Muhammad Ali`s grandson, Usyk is now viewed as a worthy successor to “The Greatest”.
Usyk cemented his position as the era`s top heavyweight with a remarkable victory over Tyson Fury earlier this year, unifying all major heavyweight titles. He had previously achieved undisputed status in the cruiserweight division.
He has two wins against Anthony Joshua, one against Tyson Fury (making him undisputed), and a prior victory over Daniel Dubois.
Despite only having 23 professional fights, Muhammad Ali`s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh, believes Usyk has already earned legendary status.
“He`s a very talented heavyweight,” Ali Walsh commented. “My grandfather was 6 foot 3 too. Boxers in the heavyweight division now are 6 foot five to 6 foot nine now. So for him to be doing it at a height disadvantage, I would definitely consider him a legend.”
Mirroring Ali`s impact, Usyk`s status as heavyweight champion carries significant political weight in his native Ukraine.
“With what`s going on in Ukraine, you`ve got Usyk stepping up and being that kind of light with his people,” Ali Walsh remarked. “Obviously there are different circumstances and different things that the country`s dealing with at that time. But in his own way, he`s doing something very similar, I think.”
Ali Walsh noted that boxing was quite different during Muhammad Ali`s era. “They called it the golden era for a reason,” he stated.
“Those guys were tough,” Ali Walsh recalled. “You had my grandpa, you had Joe Frazier, you had George Foreman, Sonny Liston. All these guys were just killers. And I`m not saying they aren`t today, but I feel like back then everybody fought everybody. Today it kind of takes time for that to happen.”
“If the money`s right, then it happens. Back then, it was just, `okay, now we`re fighting.` I think the biggest difference really is a mindset thing.”
Murray Blackwood