English boxing promoter Frank Warren believes that in the WBA-ordered clash between Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk, it will be Dubois who will will knock out Usyk, which may come as a surprise to many boxing fans.
After the talks of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fell apart, WBA officially ordered Usyk to face the mandatory challenger Dubois, who is currently the sanctioning body’s “Regular” champion, the counterpart of Usyk’s “Super” status.
The WBA has also given a deadline of 2nd May to both teams in order to avoid a purse bid. The winner of Usyk vs. Dubois will face Filip Hrgovic next, followed by whoever holds the interim WBO belt.
Speaking to iFL TV in a recent interview, Frank Warren referred to the fight between Dubois and Usyk, and while Usyk is expected to be the heavy favourite, Warren predicted that it will be Dubois securing a knockout win.
“He (Dubois) can’t fight tomorrow or next month because he’s obviously got a ways to go, but come the end of June or July, he’ll be good to go. Whatever happens, if we can’t agree to terms, it’ll be ordered, so the fight will happen, which is good because it will stop all the nonsense, and it will have to take place. So if we have a purse bid, we’ll have a purse bid,” said Warren.
It is a big statement, but I believe Dubois can do it: Frank Warren
Warren also highlighted the skills of Daniel Dubois, and explained that Usyk will be forced to do a magnificent job in defense, in order to stay in the place of world champion. It should be noted that the 71-year-old promoter has been managing Dubois’ career for some time, as well as Tyson Fury, along with Bob Arum.
“If they don’t agree, it will go to purse bids. Whatever happens, Daniel will be there facing him [Usyk], and he’ll have to make the defense, and Daniel will beat him,” Warren went on. “It is a big statement, but I believe he can do it and will do it. “I think he’ll stop him,” Warren went on, “He’s got a very good jab, and he’s a big, big puncher. If he catches him, he’ll go, and he will catch him. He’s a very big man, Daniel, and I think it’s his time; I really do think so.”
“I think my man has the beating of Usyk. The same as I felt that Tyson [Fury] had the beating of [Deontay] Wilder in the first fight, and he proved it in the second fight. I felt he’d knock him out in the second fight. I feel he has the beating of him [Usyk],” he concluded. [H/T Boxing News 24]
