Dubois Will Give Usyk More Problems Than Joshua, AJ Vs. Wilder Guaranteed

Daniel Dubois will pose a greater danger to Oleksandr Usyk than Anthony Joshua. 

That is according to Dubois’ former trainer Shane McGuigan. The two fighters will face each other on August 26th, 2023, as Usyks defends his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles.

Victory for the Ukrainian keeps his dreams of becoming undisputed alive, while a win for Dubois would give him a world title for the first time. 

Although Usyk is the heavy favorite, McGuigan has given Dubois more than a good chance to come out victorious. 

"I think he’s a harder puncher…You cannot write that man [Dubois] off. I’ve never seen people get knocked out like the way he knocks people out. He’s a phenomenal puncher. But you have to land.

"If [Usyk] can adopt that style as he did with AJ, have that moving style and not let Dan set his feet, I think it will be a one-sided fight. But there’s also that puncher’s chance 100%," McGuigan said 

Nevertheless, Uysk is undefeated and has shown that he is capable of taking shots at heavyweight.

Even when Joshua did manage to land, the Ukrainian responded strongly. So much so that he was on the verge of stopping ‘AJ’ in the final round of the first fight, only for the bell to save him. 

And yet, Carl Frampton also backed up McGuigan. He felt that Dubois’ unpredictability meant that the fight could change at any minute.

And given that it is heavyweight boxing, anything can happen on any given day. After all, Joshua had suffered a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz. Jr. which many did not see coming.

"This potentially could be [Usyk’s] toughest fight at heavyweight and I have been thinking about that. I still have a clear favourite in the fight, which is Usyk, but just listening to the boys today, Frank Warren and the confidence of Don Charles and the confidence of Daniel Dubois and it wouldn’t surprise me as much if they pull off an upset here," Frampton

If Dubois did pull off the upset, then the chances of making an undisputed fight at heavyweight would be a lot simpler.

Both Dubois and Tyson Fury are promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions. Therefore, doing an in-house fight with Fury, could avoid a lot of the obstacles have emerged with Usyk and the need for a cross promotion.

However, if Usyk does come out victorious, then all eyes will be on Fury to sign on the dotted line.

Joshua Vs. Wilder

As for Joshua, he will fight Deontay Wilder regardless of what happens when he faces Dillian Whyte on August 12th, 2023. 

That is according to Whyte himself. The two Brits will rekindle their rivalry once again following Joshua’s seventh-round knockout win over Whyte in 2015.

This time around, though, both fighters are on a rebuild. Joshua and Whyte have each secured wins over Jermaine Franklin in their last fights, but their performances have come under heavy scrutiny.

The narrative running into this fight was that a win for either fighter would set up a lucrative bout with Wilder in Saudi Arabia.

This suggested that Whyte had the chance to spoil the party. And yet, it seems that Joshua’s commercial power may have secured a Wilder fight regardless of this result. 

"He’s already got a guarantee to fight Wilder win, lose or draw. That’s why they’re taking this fight. It’s a guarantee that the fight’s already made. He’s not taking this because like he’s saying he’s risking everything, they’re chatting rubbish.

"The fight’s guaranteed win, lose or draw. He’s not really taking no risk. This fight is happening because of greed really which I’m grateful for," Whyte

This is understandable since the rivalry between Joshua and Wilder had been in the making for a long time.

The duo had been linked with an undisputed fight in 2019, with suggestions that Wilder’s camp had made a $50 million offer.

The fight did not materialize, as Joshua ended up losing to Andy Ruiz Jr. as Wilder lost out to Tyson Fury. With that being said, Whyte was grateful for securing a mega fight with Joshua anyway. 

"It’s a shame to be one of the top fighters in the world [and] I’m still struggling like I was ten years ago. I don’t have to stand outside Camden centre selling tickets in my dressing room back-to-back weekends before I’m about to go in there.

"It’s been tough. I haven’t been treated the way I should have been treated and getting the right respect I should’ve got but it’s life. When it gives you lemons you make lemonade so I must be a lemonade master by now," Whyte stated

With Dubois and Whyte facing the biggest fights of their careers, they know a victory could be life changing. You can stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the world of boxing by visiting boxingblitz right here.