Daniel Dubois targets Oleksandr Usyk trilogy after Fabio Wardley rematch win
The WBO heavyweight champion stopped Wardley in the second round at The O2 in London and says he now has what it takes to beat the Ukrainian, who has defeated him twice.
Post by @SkySportsBoxing on X
Daniel Dubois has set his sights on a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk after stopping Fabio Wardley in the second round of their rematch at The O2 in London.
The 29-year-old Londoner, who holds the WBO heavyweight title, has lost both of his previous fights with Usyk but is convinced he can reverse those results. Dubois said of a trilogy bout: “Definitely, definitely – I’d love that.” He added that he and his team had learned from their mistakes and would come out on top this time.
Usyk gave up the WBC, WBA and IBF belts shortly after a late stoppage of kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in May. He intends to keep fighting, and promoter Frank Warren is working to bring him back into title contention.
Usyk is one of several possible next opponents for Dubois. The others include the winner of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua's fight on 11 December, IBF champion Filip Hrgovic, WBC champion Agit Kabayel and WBA champion Murat Gassiev. Dubois said he wanted to carry his momentum into his next fight and would face whoever was next in line or whoever paid the most. A fight with Moses Itauma is a further possibility down the line.
Warren expects the division to have an undisputed champion within 18 months after a series of unification fights in stadiums. He said: “The name of the game is to get all four belts.” Warren added that Dubois wanted all four belts, as did his rivals.
Referee Steve Gray stopped the rematch in the second round. Dubois denied that he had planned to go straight after Wardley, saying it just happened and that he refused to lose. He said Wardley carried mental scars from their first fight and that he had wanted to take him back to that memory.
Dubois said: “Fabio has got a great chin and is known for taking punishment but I was going through him with my punches. I had to pull myself back at times and reset.” Wardley, beaten for the second time in his career and both times by Dubois, has vowed to return.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More Boxing from Combat Sports UK
- Denis Boytsov, boxer said to hit harder than Anthony Joshua, dies aged 40
- On this day in 2003: Moore stops Logan to keep British and Commonwealth belts
- Sebastian Fundora stops Ermal Hadribeaj in the final second to keep WBC title
- Terence Crawford says he doesn't see Christian Mbilli beating Canelo Alvarez
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.