Usyk puts his world titles on the line close to home in Poland (Picture: Getty)
In his latest column, the former Olympian and heavyweight contender assesses the challenge ahead of ‘Dynamite’ Dubois who heads out to Poland in his attempt to dethrone IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Usyk.
A huge task for Dubois
Daniel Dubois faces one of the toughest tasks in boxing when he attempts to take the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles from Oleksandr Usyk in Poland this weekend.
But you have to give this young man his props. We have to remember, this guy is 25, he is very young to have got himself into this fantastic position which he has earned all the way. Yes, the Joe Joyce defeat was a devastating setback but he has done everything asked of him since.
He will have learned a lot from that defeat too. People have asked questions over what it did mentally to him and the real test of that will be against Usyk.
It is a challenge every young fighter will relish, going to fight someone considered the best in the world. There is nothing for Daniel to lose and everything to gain. I hope he goes there and gives a really honest account of himself and make himself proud.
He Is a huge puncher, still one of the biggest in the division but there is no doubt about it, it will be a difficult night’s work. But I will be rooting for him.
Dubois has earned the right to challenge one of the best around (Picture: Getty)
The most important thing is not letting the occasion get to him. It is difficult not to see a scenario where Usyk controls the fight. He can be caught, but it is not just about landing one shot on him, it is landing one, following it up and putting him under pressure.
Usyk is of course going to use the space, the feints, the angles, everything that makes him so great. But it will be up to Daniel to take everything he has done in camp into the fight.
A chance he had to take
He will have done the sparring against fighters like Usyk, tricky elusive southpaws. He has Don Charles in his corner who is a good coach so it will be about going in there, listening and executing what was done in camp.
It is an uphill task, but whatever happens, go out there and have a real go. Throw everything you have at him, try punch through that defence, slow him down with shots everywhere – to his arms, chest, neck, whatever. Let your hands go and cause a shock.
Dubois will be fighting with Don Charles in his corner for the first time (Picture: Getty)
With the state of the heavyweight division, you have to answer the call when it comes, whatever the circumstances.
Daniel benefited from the Tyson Fury fight falling through earlier this year and he did not hesitate in saying yes to Usyk, despite the knee injury at the end of last year and the changes behind the scenes having parted ways with Shane McGuigan.
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If he had said no, there is no way of knowing when the chance comes again, nothing is guaranteed in the heavyweight division.
I credit him for taking this. Usyk will have all the backing out there in Poland and it will be an emotional night for him and all the other Ukrainians in attendance.
But I will be rooting for Daniel to bring those belts back to the UK.
MORE : Hamzah Sheeraz to fight on Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois card against Ukraine’s Dmytro Mytrofanov
MORE : Oleksandr Usyk to defend heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois in Poland on 26 August
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The Londoner has it all to do against the reigning heavyweight king but his power and planning gives him hope.
