Big rematch at Wembley: Usyk vs. Dubois set for title unification

British boxer Daniel Dubois and Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk will fight on July 19 at London's Wembley Stadium for the absolute world heavyweight champion title, the British BBC announced.

It will be their second fight, in which the 27-year-old Briton will try to avenge the 38-year-old Ukrainian for his defeat in a fight held in August 2023 in Wroclaw, Poland, which ended in a ninth-round stoppage.

Dubois currently holds the IBF world championship belt, while Usyk holds the remaining three (WBA, WBO and WBC).

The Ukrainian wrote a new chapter in the history of professional boxing in May 2024, when he defeated Tyson Fury to become the first absolute world heavyweight champion in the "four-belt era". He defeated Fury once again in December last year, but had to relinquish the IBF title before that fight.

Thus, Daniel Dubois became the owner of that belt, and he defended the awarded title against his compatriot Anthony Joshua in September 2024. Dubois was supposed to defend that title once again in a fight with New Zealander Joseph Parker in February, but due to illness he had to withdraw from the fight a few days before it was supposed to take place.

Confidence

Judging by the statements, Dubois is not lacking in confidence before the rematch with Usyk.

“This is the fight that I wanted and asked for, and now I have a chance for revenge. I should have won the first fight, but the judge's assessment prevented me, so now I will not repeat the mistake in front of my people at the national stadium in the city where I live,” said Dubois, adding:

“Now I am a better and more dangerous fighter, and Usyk will see for himself.”

If he can turn words into action, Dubois will become the first British boxer to unify all the heavyweight world titles in the “four-belt era.” The last Briton to hold all three titles was Lennox Lewis, who achieved them in 1999 by defeating Evander Hollyfield in the second of their two fights, after the first ended in a draw.