Daniel Dubois promises to defeat Oleksandr Usyk in a potential rematch if he can defeat Joseph Parker | Boxing news
Daniel Dubois has escalated his war of words with Oleksandr Usyk, insisting the Ukrainian was “lucky” in their first fight and will be beaten in a potential rematch later this year.
However, Usyk’s camp have responded by insisting the Brit won’t even beat Joseph Parker when he makes the first defense of his world heavyweight title next month.
Dubois won the IBF title when he beat Anthony Joshua in September and has been ever since called for an indisputable showdown with Usykawho holds the WBO, WBA and WBC belts.
The two met for the first time in a controversial fight in Poland 2023 when Dubois dropped the Ukrainian with a body kick in the fifth round, which the referee deemed a low blow and subsequently gave him extra time to recover.
Usyk won by knockout, but Dubois told Sky Sports that the rematch would look very different.
Next time I wouldn’t let him off the hook, he said at the Ring magazine awards.
“He was lucky last time.
“I must right that wrong and get my revenge. But first and foremost is Joseph Parker, all eyes are on him.”
Usyk has two wins over Tyson Fury in 2024, but promoter Alex Krassyuk is not currently thinking about a potential rematch with Dubois.
That’s because he expects Parker to wrest the IBF title from him when they fight in Riyadh on February 22.
“You never know, we have no idea [what’s next]Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
“Now it’s time to relax. It’s time to rest.
“Then after Dubois fights Parker, which I think Parker will win, we just don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
Dubois: I’m ready to defend the belt against Parker
Dubois, however, insists he can carry the momentum of his historic victory over Joshua at Wembley Stadium into next month’s fight in Saudi Arabia.
And he insists he will beat Parker, who has pulled off stunning upsets against Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder in his last two outings.
“I’m confident, I’m ready,” added Dubois.
“Everyone has to grow up, right? I’m confident, ready to fight and ready to go for it and move on.
“Here we go and I really want to keep this momentum going until we’re on top.”
