Oleksandr Usyks ice-cold reaction to Daniel | Boxing News

Oleksandr Usyk gave Daniel Dubois an ice-cold response when the Briton requested for an instant rematch within the wake of his 2023 loss. The undefeated Ukrainian met with ‘DDD’ in Wroclaw, Poland, to defend his assortment of WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts, handing Dubois the second loss of his promising profession through a ninth-round knockout.

However, Dubois felt aggrieved by the bout after his own knockdown earlier within the combat might have seen him have his hand raised as a substitute – had it not been ruled unlawful. Dubois dropped Usyk to the canvas within the fifth spherical with a brutal proper hook to the physique. However, referee Luis Pabon ruled the strike as touchdown under the belt, permitting the champion to recuperate after calling for a timeout.

The combat continued till the ninth, the place Usyk buckled Dubois with a stiff proper hand to the pinnacle, the Briton finally failing to make it back to his toes in time to proceed combating. When requested in regards to the prospect of an instant rematch within the ring, Usyk coldly refused to give his phrase, as a substitute jokingly offering him a brawl on the streets of Poland.

Speaking during the post-fight press convention, Usyk stated: “I’m ready for rematch tomorrow in a street fight. I’m ready. Not boxing gloves, but a street fight.” Elsewhere, talking in regards to the combat, Dubois stated: “I didn’t think that was a low blow.

“I believed that landed and I’ve been cheated out of victory tonight. What else can I say? That was a win tonight. But what? I’ve obtained to come again.” Fast forward to 2025, and the two men are yet to give fans a rerun of their first dust up, despite the best efforts of Dubois.

Usyk turned the primary undisputed champion at heavyweight because the Lennox Lewis period when he bested Tyson Fury through split-decision in Saudi Arabia final May, earlier than handing the ‘Gypsy King’ a second consecutive loss – this time unanimous – in December. And Dubois was watching from the wings during the second encounter, primed and ready to call out Usyk for a rematch of his own.

Rushing into the ring in the wake of Usyk’s second win, Dubois said: “Usyk, I need my revenge. I need my revenge Usyk. Well carried out on tonight, properly carried out on tonight. God bless. I need my revenge for the theft final time. Let’s get it, let’s go.”

A combat between the 2 heavyweights is but to be scheduled, and Usyk has since recalled the weird call-out from December. Speaking to Sky Sports, he stated: “I believed, ‘What are you doing right here? This is my place’. After the combat [Dubois said], ‘Hey, pay attention, I need rematch…’ Just say good job.”

However, Dubois has nonetheless been insistent on a rematch with the Ukrainian phenom, not too long ago telling Sky Sports News: “We’ve all obtained to grow up someday. Run it back. My subsequent combat I’m working in the direction of, I’m prepared for it now.”

However, should Dubois have any hopes of facing Usyk for his WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBO belts, he will first have to get through Joseph Parker. Some fans of the sport were baffled by Dubois’ callout of Usyk in December, given that he already had a fight with the New Zealander scheduled at the time.

Dubois puts his IBF title on the line when the two men go toe-to-toe at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening in a heavyweight brawl for the ages. The Briton has yet to defend his newly found crown after winning it by knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley back in September, but he is hopeful that he will keep it with him after facing Parker.

Speaking on his opponent ahead of Saturday’s showdown, Dubois said: “I don’t know if I’m beneath his pores and skin. I do know what I’m right here for, what I’ve been coaching in camp for now. I simply really feel like I’ve obtained to be higher, stronger, quicker, every thing, what you’re speaking about, the face-off, that was a bit of enjoyable. I’ll make him give up.”