‘He’s ready to go!’ – Frank Warren says Daniel Dubois can beat Oleksandr Usyk, Ukrainian can’t fight Deontay Wilder
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ByEurosport
Published 24/03/2023 at 13:25 GMT
Fans who are worried about not getting to watch Oleksandr Usyk face off against Tyson Fury should be more than happy if it ends up being British boxer Daniel Dubois who fights the Ukrainian instead, according to Frank Warren. Usyk and Fury’s camps have until April 1 to agree a deal, otherwise the WBA will force a mandatory title defence between Usyk and Dubois instead.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Daniel Dubois celebrates after defeating Kevin Lerena, during their WBA heavyweight championship fight, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 03, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Im
Image credit: Getty Images
Daniel Dubois is “ready to go” and can beat Oleksandr Usyk, according to promoter Frank Warren, who also said that the Ukrainian won’t be able to sidestep and fight Deontay Wilder instead.
Usyk’s next opponent is currently unknown after talks between his camp and Tyson Fury’s broke down earlier in the week.
The WBA have said that the two parties have until April 1 in order to come to an agreement. If they cannot find one then they will order Usyk to have a mandatory defence against Brit Dubois.
And Warren told BT Sport that he thinks Dubois is ready to fight Usyk, and is ready to cause a shock.
“Well, the mandatory is that he’s the WBA champion and the WBA have said in writing that if we hadn’t agreed terms and submitted contracts by April 1 for Tyson and Usyk that that would be the fight and they’re calling that mandatory defence.
"They don’t think Daniel’s ready to box, he’s here today, he is ready to go.
"So they’re not going to get a fight – I noticed in the interview he did yesterday on IFL Alex said we’d fight the WBA mandatory, thinking that they can bypass him and they ain’t [sic] going to happen, that’s who he’s fighting.”
It was put to Warren that the Usyk camp has mentioned fighting Deontay Wilder, to which he replied: “They can mention what they like.”
It was then put to him that it has to be May or June for Dubois v Usyk for the three belts and Warren nodded adding, “or he vacates the title” which would, of course, make Dubois the champion by default.
Warren also moved to try and downplay any concerns of fans who would be upset not to see Usyk face off against Fury.
“They’re good fighters, he’s [Dubois] a young, upcoming guy, big puncher, he can box, he’s shown he’s got a bit of heart. That’s a good fight, a big fight.
“I look at Usyk v Chisora and the problems Chisora gave him and I think Daniel can beat him.”
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