Tony Bellew believes Daniel Dubois deserves immense respect for agreeing to a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, who is well aware of the British heavyweight`s “weaknesses.”
Two years after their initial fight, which the Ukrainian won by ninth-round knockout, Dubois and Usyk are set to clash again at Wembley Stadium on July 19 to unify all four major heavyweight world titles.
Caption: Oleksandr Usyk was floored by a punch from Daniel Dubois that was controversially ruled as a ‘low blow’ during the Ukrainian’s hotly disputed points win over the British heavyweight.
Usyk`s victory was so decisive that it left Bellew with nothing but admiration for any fighter willing to step back into the ring with him.
“I give Daniel all the credit in the world for going back in with him, because if I was offered to go back in with Usyk I`d run a mile,” Bellew stated.
Caption: A look back on what would be Tony Bellew’s final fight as he was sent to the canvas by Oleksandr Usyk at the Manchester Arena.
“Dubois is a fighter who has come on leaps and bounds. I wish him the best of luck and tip my hat to him, because anyone who goes in with Usyk more than once deserves a medal – Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and now Daniel Dubois.”
Regarding Dubois` attempt to become Britain`s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis – and the first in the four-belt era – Bellew added: “Daniel is a very good fighter, he has shown he can overcome trials and tribulations.
“He`s in with a real chance in this fight. I don`t think he`s going to win but I give him a big puncher`s chance.
“If he doesn`t let Usyk frustrate him, he`s in the fight, but it`s going to be a really difficult start for him because Usyk will know his strengths and powers, and let`s be honest, he also knows his weaknesses because he has been in the ring with him before.”
Caption: After Tyson Fury’s cryptic social post, Andy Scott and Gary Logan discuss if Fury is close to returning to the ring and even closer to the dream fight between the ‘Gypsy King’ and Anthony Joshua.
Time Will Never Run Out on AJ vs Fury
Bellew believes there is still time for the much-anticipated fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to happen.
Fury recently reiterated his retirement from boxing, but Bellew thinks the fight against Joshua is essential to avoid both fighters regretting not staging their generational bout.
Caption: Tyson Fury reaffirms his retirement, questioning why he would wish to return with views of Lake Como.
“I don`t think time ever runs out for fighters of their magnitude,” Bellew commented.
“It didn`t run out for Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, so it`s not going to run out for Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury.
“We need to see it. It won`t sit right with both fighters in 10, 15 years` time. I hope we do see it but both of them are going to go down as British boxing legends either way.”
Murray Blackwood