Daniel Dubois is set to collide with Oleksandr Usyk on 19 July at Wembley Stadium in a blockbuster showdown to crown the undisputed world heavyweight champion. The stage is set for a dramatic night under the London lights as the Briton seeks not just revenge, but history.
Dubois, now the holder of the IBF crown, faces a man who has made a habit of crushing British dreams. Usyk, undefeated in 23 professional bouts, already holds the WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC belts and has left a trail of fallen champions in his wake, including Dubois himself. Their last encounter in August 2023 ended with a ninth-round stoppage that left Dubois searching for answers and redemption.
Since then, Usyk has only burnished his legend, defeating Tyson Fury in May 2024 to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. Although he later relinquished the IBF title ahead of his rematch with Fury in December, his reputation as one of boxing’s finest technicians remains untouched.
Dubois, elevated to IBF champion after Usyk’s vacancy, has proven his mettle with a sensational title defence against Anthony Joshua last September. A scheduled second defence against Joseph Parker in February was thwarted by illness, but the Londoner’s hunger for greatness never waned. Now, he prepares for the ultimate test, determined to overturn the narrative of their first meeting.
Fighting at Wembley, the spiritual home of British boxing, offers Dubois both an emotional edge and an opportunity to complete one of the sport’s great turnarounds. He believes he was robbed of victory the first time around, particularly after a contentious moment when a borderline shot nearly floored Usyk. Those painful memories have fuelled a new, fiercer version of Dubois — one who now believes he can not only match Usyk but dominate him.
For Usyk, the mission is clear: reclaim the IBF belt he briefly ceded and reassert his total dominance over the heavyweight division. The 38-year-old Ukrainian, already an undisputed champion at cruiserweight before conquering the heavyweights, knows that one more victory would further cement his standing among the sport’s immortals.
While the 11-year age gap between them might suggest a generational shift is coming, few would underestimate Usyk’s enduring brilliance. Dubois has the youth, the power, and the home crowd, but Usyk brings experience, mastery, and an icy composure forged in a lifetime of championship nights.
The last Briton to stand undisputed at heavyweight was Lennox Lewis in 1999. Now, Dubois has a chance to become the first of the four-belt era. This is not just about belts — it is about redemption, legacy, and defying expectations.
As the summer night falls over Wembley, the question looms large: will Dubois finally climb to the summit he once seemed destined to miss, or will Usyk continue his reign as the heavyweight heartbreak king?
