British boxer Daniel Dubois, the WBO heavyweight champion, has publicly stated his desire to face Oleksandr Usyk for a third time. The statement came immediately after "Dynamite" convincingly defended his title in a bout against fellow countryman Fabio Wardley. According to the Briton, his next fight with the Ukrainian champion could turn out fundamentally differently than the previous two, and he is confident that this time victory will belong to his camp. Details of the statement and the context of the rivalry are reported by Sport RBC.UA.
Confident Title Defense
Dubois finished the bout against Fabio Wardley with minimal effort and virtually no resistance from his opponent. The Briton knocked his opponent down in the very first round, and in the second round, Wardley's corner was forced to throw in the white towel, conceding defeat. Throughout the entire fight, according to the source, Dubois absorbed only four punches, allowing him to retain his WBO championship belt and demonstrate top form ahead of a potential new challenge.
"I Am a Different Boxer Now"
Immediately after the quick knockout, Dubois spoke about a new duel with the Ukrainian champion. "Of course, I want to meet Usyk again. This time victory will be ours. We made mistakes, but now everything will be different. I am already a different boxer. I don't think there is a heavyweight in the world who could withstand the punches I was landing today," the Briton stated. Thus, Dubois directly acknowledged the mistakes made in their two previous meetings and ties his chances to the evolution of his own boxing level.
Rivalry History
Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois have already met in the ring twice, with both bouts ending in early victories for the Ukrainian. In 2023, Usyk knocked out the Briton in the ninth round, defending his heavyweight championship belts. In July 2025, the boxers had a rematch in which the Ukrainian once again secured a knockout victory—this time in the fifth round. Both stoppage losses put Dubois in the position of having to prove that the lessons learned have changed his game.
Context: Rankings and Prospects
It was previously reported that Dubois topped the rankings of the best heavyweights, which strengthens his arguments in negotiations for a potential trilogy. At the same time, the decision to hold a third fight depends on the stance of Usyk himself and his team, as well as agreements with promoters and the television network. For now, the Briton's statement remains a public challenge rather than a confirmed bout announcement, and further developments will depend on the reaction of the Ukrainian champion.
