'I just got to land on his little head' - Says Daniel Dubois Prior Usyk vs Dubois Showdown
Daniel Dubois is approaching his forthcoming Usyk vs Dubois bout with a straightforward mindset. At 25, this London-based heavyweight challenger is gearing up for a significant escalation in his competition as he gears up to face the IBF, WBA, WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk on Aug. 26 at Wroclaw Stadium, Poland. Usyk, previously renowned as the undisputed cruiserweight champion, ascended to the heavyweight championship ranks when he bested Anthony Joshua with a unanimous decision in London in September of 2021. The Ukrainian champion then followed this with a subsequent victory over Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, clinched by a split decision. Following this, there were extensive discussions about Usyk possibly clashing with WBC champion Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title. However, a consensus could not be reached. Instead, Fury is now set to take on former UFC standout and boxing newcomer, Francis Ngannou, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 28. Despite being perceived as the underdog in Usyk vs Dubois bout, Dubois is aiming to use the consistent progress he's made, evidenced by his four successive wins, especially after his 2020 defeat to fellow British boxer Joe Joyce. The Londoner believes that his physical advantages, combined with his strategy to limit Usyk's movements within the ring, will be pivotal. Recognizing Usyk's agility and speed, Dubois feels the key lies in narrowing down the ring space. He views Usyk's southpaw stance as a mere detail, emphasizing that in the heat of the battle, the main objective remains simple: to land powerful blows. Dubois is confident about his game plan for Usyk vs Dubois fight, focusing on being assertive and deploying the tactics refined during his training. He remains unambiguous about his approach, stating that he aims to consistently target Usyk, underscoring the latter's cruiserweight origins. For Dubois, boxing is a discipline he's embraced throughout his life, and he feels poised for this challenge, considering his experience and age. He intends to bring all his expertise to bear in this match-up.
“I feel like he’s a mover, so we’ve got to cut down the ring,” Dubois said of his strategy against Usyk in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans. “He’s a good mover so that’s the main thing and just fight normally. He’s a southpaw and all that but you’ve got to fight. It’s a fight at the end of the day. So just punch him in the face—his head’s not going to be southpaw, is it? “Yeah, opening up on him [is the plan],” Dubois continued. “Opening up on him, being aggressive. Everything that we’ve worked on in camp, just unleashing it on him. “I just got to land on his little head. Keep landing on his little head, bang him up. He’s a cruiserweight. It’s not complicated for me. It’s boxing, I’ve done this my whole life. This is the right moment for me. I’m 25 now. I’ve been through wars, so I need to be a veteran in this fight.”
