Boxing is set to get its second undisputed world heavyweight champion in just over a year – Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2 is officially set.
WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal champion Usyk (23-0) and Dubois (22-2) will lock horns at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday July 19 with all of the belts on the line. The bout will stream live globally on DAZN.
It gives Usyk the opportunity to become undisputed champion for a second time – he owned all of the titles for a short period when he defeated Tyson Fury in their epic first fight last May in Riyadh. That ended a long 25-year wait for an undisputed ruler in the heavyweight division, dating all the way back to Lennox Lewis in 1999. The 38-year-old Usyk of course had previously won all the belts at cruiserweight.
Dubois gets chance for revenge
For Dubois meanwhile, it is the opportunity for revenge from his first meeting with Usyk in Wroclaw, Poland in August 2023. On that night a body shot by Daniel in the fifth round was deemed illegal by the referee and Usyk was afforded over four minutes of recovery time. Deflated by the overrule of his knockdown and ultimately stopped in the ninth, ‘Dynamite’ now gets the opportunity to settle that long-standing score.
Since that Usyk reverse, Dubois, 27, has put together a string of resounding victories by overcoming the previously undefeated Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, followed by a Wembley destruction of former unified champion Anthony Joshua.
His IBF Interim title success over Hrgovic was later upgraded to full champion status, with his encounter with Joshua being his first defence of the title. A scheduled second defence against former WBO world champion Joseph Parker in February was called off at late notice due to illness.
Never before has an undisputed heavyweight championship been fought for on British soil and attendance and viewing figure records in the UK and Europe are likely to be shattered on what will be a monumental night for the sport.
Usyk wants IBF belt back
“I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship,” said Oleksandr Usyk. “Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back.”
“This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk,” said Dubois.
“I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgement of the referee, so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city. I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19.
“I would like to thank my promoter Frank for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”
Warren excited by historic fight
“I am thrilled to deliver this historic undisputed occasion for Daniel at Wembley Stadium,” said promoter Frank Warren.
“It will be an honour to promote a sporting event of this magnitude and a privilege to bring over a champion of the stature of Oleksandr. I would like to thank Oleksandr and his team at Ready to Fight for their great cooperation in making this fight become a reality. I am certain that we will see the best of British both in and outside of the ring, from Daniel and the unrivalled fight fans who will pack out the biggest sporting venue in the country.”
“Both teams have done tremendous work to make this fight a reality. Even more work is waiting ahead, especially for Oleksandr and Daniel themselves. I’m confident no one will be left disappointed,” said Egis Klimas, Oleksandr Usyk’s manager.
The fighters will kick off the big fight build-up with a press conference on Tuesday (April 29) and tickets for the show will go on sale a day later on Wednesday April 30. Almost 100,000 fans packed the famous London venue for Joshua vs Dubois, and a repeat here appears likely.
