Usyk vs Dubois 2 – Is Usyk’s manager right when he says Dubois is still the same fighter?

Daniel Dubois’ two losses as a professional could come back to haunt him again this Saturday night.

 

That’s the verdict of Egis Klimas, who could be the only person in boxing not impressed by the Londoner’s recent rebound.

Since losing to Oleskandr Usyk in 2023, Dubois has bounced back in a brutal manner as he has registered dominant stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and most impressively, Anthony Joshua.

As well as scoring those incredible victories, Dubois has also captured the IBF crown, and he will place that on the line this weekend as he looks to become undisputed champion against the unbeaten Ukrainian.

Despite the resurgence, Dubois still carries around with him two damaging losses, and the way he was defeated has led to some criticism within the sport.

“Fighters get in that ring, and we know what’s on the line. Every fighter needs to understand, and the fans need to understand that. In the past, we’ve seen a lot of tragedies in boxing, deaths in the ring. Before I go on one knee, I’d like to go out on my back with my pulse stopped," said Billy Joe Saunders when speaking to Ak and Barak after Dubois took a full count against Joe Joyce in 2020.

Ironically for Saunders, just months later, he would not answer the bell for the ninth round against Canelo Alvarez, which meant his attack on Dubious had come full circle.

Against Usyk, his second career loss, Dubois would hear the count of 10 whilst on his knees for a second time, which meant the original noise from his first career defeat would have the volume turned way up. His career appeared in jeopardy, but he has since pushed on to prove himself.

Winning over doubters is always an eye-catching quality, but there still appears to be some way to go for Dubois according to Klimas.

After listening to several members of Team Dubois insist their man is a new fighter, Klimas quickly played it down.

“Same guy and you can’t change your mind,” said Klimas with a cold assurance when speaking at a congested press conference inside Wembley Stadium.

Analysis - Is Dubois really a new fighter?

Dubois’ renaissance is nothing new in heavyweight boxing. Even as recently as 2004, Wladimir Klitschko found a way to dismiss multiple complaints about his chin and stamina to reign as world champion for almost a decade.

Possessing the wealth to hire the most expensive trainer in the game, Manny Steward, Klitschko slowly went about his business in a cautious manner, but he was most certainly helped by a shallow pool of contenders who were extremely fortunate to land themselves title shots.

For Dubois, the process has been homegrown with the help of his father, Don Charles, Kieran Farrell, and Frank Warren.

Plenty had given up on Dubois, and with good reason, Joyce made him look foolish at times and he was also dropped three times in one round by Kevin Lerena, but those closest to him, convinced he had something, would not wilt.

Dubois went through hell against Miller. It was similar against Hrgovic, but against Joshua, brimming with confidence from those two wins, Dubois briefly made people forget he was the same fighter who crumbled against Joyce and Usyk.

Against Joshua, it felt like boxing fans were watching a fighter for the first time who had emerged the shadows to finally take his place in the spotlight. People may have known about the old Dubois, but they did not recognise this version that destroyed Joshua inside the same venue that hosts this weekend’s fight.

Dubois may still into have improved enough to go out there this weekend and shock the world against Usyk, but the version we last saw two years, slumped on a Polish canvas, is surely consigned to history.

Usyk vs Dubois 2 only on DAZN

Watch Usyk versus Dubois 2 live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday - July 19 - for £24.99 UK; $59.99 US; $19.99/equivalent ROW. Buy the PPV now here.