Two Queensberry heavyweights, two recent defeats, one obvious next step. With Daniel Dubois halted in five rounds by Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley and David Adeleye edged on the cards by Filip Hrgovic four weeks later, a domestic crossroads fight now feels like the cleanest reset for both. They’re 27 and 28 with time on their side, and neither loss shredded their stock.
Adeleye has leaned into the idea. “I want to be involved in another big fight where people think maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew,” he told Sky Sports, adding that he and Dubois have “shared a ring many, many times” in sparring. He even poked at old criticisms - “He tried and then he quit, I think” - a jab at Dubois’ reputation that traces back to the Joe Joyce loss in 2020 and resurfaced in both Usyk defeats.
Watch Hrgovic vs. Adeleye highlights: Watch
For Dubois, the Usyk result was expected by most and arguably says as much about the champion’s improvement as it does about Dubois’ ceiling. Still, after a failed title bid and the backlash that follows, the incentive to answer questions in a winnable - yet risky - domestic shootout is obvious. Adeleye showed resilience against Hrgovic - down in the eighth, then rallying to hurt him - and brings the kind of edge that sells a rebuild.
It’s simple matchmaking logic: same promoter, similar timing, shared need. “A good fight, a good shootout,” Adeleye promised. When desperation meets opportunity, fights get easier to make - and this one makes sense right now.
Image Credit: Sky Sports