Daniel Dubois is preparing to compete against the heavyweight champion of the world, be it Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury.
The young Londoner holds the WBA ‘lifetime’ belt. The title is viewed lightly, the second belt to the WBA heavyweight championship that Oleksandr Usyk holds along with the IBF and WBO titles.
But it leaves Dubois well placed in the division and in contention for Usyk’s WBA title.
Londoner Dubois is looking for the best in this world
“He’s a ‘regular’ WBA champion. People can scoff, we shot Trevor Bryan for that. [But Dubois] he still has a world title that puts him in a position of power. “He’s very successful with the WBA,” said Shane McGuigan, Dubois’ trainer Sky Sports.
Dubois’ team believes he is the first to be called Usyk’s opponent.
“We shoot, line by line. Because Usyk has all the other belts, he has the IBF, WBO and WBA, Fury has the WBC. From the IBF, WBA and WBO, Daniel is the first in line, the WBA is the first in the line to shoot,” McGuigan explained.
That’s why Dubois is fighting a southern opponent in Kevin Lerena. “We want to prepare for that. They have to prepare to be able to do that,” the coach continued.
“He has a slippery opponent in Kevin Lerena, a guy who came from cruiserweight, good mover, good head movement. He is not like Usyk, he doesn’t move with his feet but he can move his head. for us.
“We have to go through this and see how he does with the southpaw.”
Dubois lost to fellow Londoner Joe Joyce in 2020 but has since rebuilt. McGuigan can’t resist putting him with Usyk now.
Joe Joyce defeated Dubois in his 2020 hit
“No, you have to take your opportunities when they appear to you. We’ve been working together for a year now, a year and a half. He’s getting better. It’s a chance for you to show,” said McGuigan.
“He beat Bogdan Dinu, [Joe] Cusumano in America – he knocked him down and apparently he knocked Trevor Bryan down. He had a virus and a cold the week of the fight, we just got through it. We just knew he was going to get the job done. “
Usyk wants to face Tyson Fury in an undisputed heavyweight title fight early next year. This could be ahead of Dubois as an opponent and the Ukrainian team is confident that the fight will happen.
But Dubois will push his odds to get a shot at the winner, even if it’s Fury.
Lerena punches Lerena on the undercard of Fury’s Defense Against Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London next month. This will see Dubois take part in the game show and find out more.
Daniel Dubois is in terrific form
“It’s huge,” McGuigan said. “[Fury] he wants a fight in the UK, he against Derek Chisora, even the third fight they have together, is still a British name.
“Dillian Whyte is still a British name, Anthony Joshua is still a British name, Joe Joyce is still a British name. So is Daniel Dubois.
“He [Fury] they have a great selection of heavyweights. He has gone through two. He needs the AJ fight, which will probably take some time. With Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois. “
McGuigan is convinced that Dubois has the punching power to be a challenge for any heavyweight out there.
“We could be boxing Tyson Fury in the near future and yes, Dan is only 25 years old. He has to be released at some point. I think to be honest with Dan’s style, Joe Joyce is probably the hardest fight for him, out of all,” he said. .
“If he hits anybody – he gets fired.
