Don King always promotes fights in his own very distinct and inimitable way and he did it again this week when he dedicated Saturday’s Trevor Bryan vs Daniel Dubois showdown to the people of Ukraine.
The 90-year-old King has christened the battle for the WBA regular heavyweight title in Miami as “the fight for freedom and peace”.
He dominated the final press conference ahead of the bout, which will air live on BT Sport in the UK, saying:
“The Fight for Freedom and Peace is dedicated this time to the brave and courageous people of Ukraine, that Russia has decided to invade and declare war because of a bruised ego. It is a family feud that has turned into a tragedy.
“I got a call last night to say bombing had started in Kiev because the Klitschko brothers were going to try and be here to further their cause and fight for freedom, independence, peace and sovereignty they want.
“Now, with Francis (Warren) sitting to my left, the British are coming, the British are coming! I read in a column that the eloquent and distinguished Dubois said ‘I’m gonna devastate Trevor Bryan for making me wait so long’.
“Trevor wants to fight every day and twice on Saturdays. I am just delighted now we are going to have a real good time, whoever wins.”
Dubois ready to rumble Stateside
Dubois (17-1 with 16 inside distance) will start a heavy favourite on Saturday night (you can get big-fight picks here) with sportsbooks making him 1/11 to defeat 17/2 shot Bryan. ‘Dynamite’ has got his career very much back on track since that devastating loss to Joe Joyce by making short work of Bogdan Dinu and Joe Cusumano.
Now the young Londoner looks to take the next step in his career development, admitting: “I am ready to rumble. I am out here to make myself, my family and my country proud. This is what I’ve been waiting for and I can’t wait. I am going to go through Trevor and take that belt back with me on the plane.”
Francis Warren, representing Dubois promoter Queensberry, said: “Daniel has been waiting for this a long time and we respect Trevor tremendously as a world champion but Daniel is here to do the business and we are fully confident we will be going home with the new WBA world champion.”
Bryan wants respect at last
Bryan (22-0 with 15 inside distance) meanwhile believes he has had a lack of recognition he has received as the WBA regular title holder (Oleksandr Usyk is the super champion), something he intends to change on Saturday night.
“Listen, this is who I am, I’m Trevor Bryan. See this face right here? I’ve been here for a long time and I’m gonna be here for a long time. I want to thank you guys for coming over the pond to get this ass-whipping.
“Let me just say again, you know who Trevor Bryan is. I am the WBA heavyweight champion and I’m here to stay. This fight is called freedom and peace, but before you have freedom and peace you gotta have war.
“That is what we’re gonna have on June 11. The guy thinks I’m nothing, I’m 22-0 and he’s just gonna walk through me, right? That’s not what’s gonna happen, I’m telling you right now.
“I’m Trevor Bryan, the Dream, and I’m gonna be this guy’s nightmare.”
- Feature image courtesy of DKP (Don King Productions)
