Daniel Dubois says Oleksandr Usyk’s pamphlets, street‑fight offers, and other mind games will not matter when they meet for the undisputed heavyweight title on July 19 at Wembley Stadium. “He’s playing psychological games,” Dubois told reporters. “On fight night I’m bringing heat. Whether it’s points or a knockout, the goal is to win.”
The first Usyk‑Dubois bout in August 2023 ended in controversy. Dubois dropped Usyk with a body shot that referee Luis Pabón ruled low, giving Usyk more than three minutes to recover. The Ukrainian eventually stopped Dubois in round nine. Dubois’ camp still insists the blow was legal.
Watch Usyk vs. Dubois 2 press conference highlights: Watch
At last week’s press conference Usyk handed Dubois a leaflet showing the legal target area and jokingly invited four members of Dubois’ team to a post‑fight brawl in central London. Dubois responded with a shove during the face‑off but says he will remain calm on July 19: “It’s always tense, but you have to be smart. I’m here to set the record straight.”
Usyk, 38, is unbeaten and owns all four heavyweight belts after back‑to‑back wins over Tyson Fury. Dubois, 27, believes sustained body work and fair officiating can flip the script in front of 90,000 fans. Only one scorecard – or a count – will matter when the controversy is finally settled at Wembley.
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Image Credit: DAZN