Daniel Dubois has ‘grown mentally’ and promoter Frank Warren wants a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk | Debate News

Daniel Dubois has tried twice to introduce Oleksandr Usyk. Both times he failed, but is the new WBO heavyweight champion finally ready to defeat the Ukrainian?

Dubois’ first attempt at Usyk came in 2023, when he challenged the joint champion of the WBA, WBO and IBF belts in Poland. In that fight, Usyk rallied from what appeared to be below the belt and eventually held off Dubois to see him out in the ninth round.

Usyk dropped the IBF title between his two fights with Tyson Fury. Dubois got the championship and knocked out Anthony Joshua in 2024. Buoyed by that success, he tried again against Usyk last year. But in that uncontested fight, Usyk knocked him out quickly, knocking out the Londoner in the fifth round.

Dubois, however, rebuilt and regained the world title after a fight with Fabio Wardley on May 9.

His promoter, Frank Warren, believes that Dubois has a better chance of beating Usyk.

“I’d like to see Daniel live with him again,” Warren said Sky Sports. “He’s matured mentally. Physically, he’s there but mentally he’s matured now and I’d like to see that fight again, really. We’ll see.

“You know there will be a fight.”

Warren thinks the Wardley fight was a turning point for Dubois. “It was a tough fight, but I truly believe that the fight will bring him a lot,” he said. “He grew mentally in that fight. He worked hard. He was focused there and his determination came through.”

Dubois is only 28 years old but Warren believes he already has a Hall of Fame career.

“If you look at AJ’s nomination, he was put in front to get in there, a two-time world champion in the right way – he beat AJ. He did a job that no one else has done for AJ,” the promoter commented.

Dubois’ team also sees their man as a fighter who has improved enough to face Usyk for a third time.

“We are looking at Daniel and how he can expand his game outside and inside the ring,” said Mohammed Ali, head of boxing performance analysis for Dubois. Sky Sports.

“Usyk has a very scientific way, as you know, and his way was calm, very collected, he didn’t say much, although there was a lot going on behind the scenes.

“The experience that Usyk has with Daniel, that’s all it was. The experience that he has, and that’s exactly what was shown tonight, is the difference in the way Usyk handles it.

“But if there was a third fight, I can assure you it will be the same way you saw Fabio and even better.”

Don’t miss Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki live Sky Sports June 6.