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Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk - The boxers that would make up the best football team
So many kids dream of winning at Wembley when growing up, be it achieving cup glory for the club they support or representing their country with a victory.
This weekend, those dreams will not solely belong to football fans, with Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois battling it out under the arch to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, live on DAZN PPV.
As boxing takes over the home of football this Saturday, DAZN News has imagined a starting XI of fighters fit to grace Wembley Stadium.
- Read next | Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2: Date, undercard, ringwalk times, TV channel, prediction, analysis, odds
Tony Bellew – Goalkeeper
Like boxers, goalkeepers have to be quite good with their hands, so perhaps most fighters would be best suited to going in between the sticks.
Aside from both wearing gloves, another feature in common is the bravery – and perhaps lack of common sense – that goalkeepers and boxers possess in order to get in the way of fast-moving objects.
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
We’ve selected Tony Bellew to keep goal for our side, based on his prior experience at Soccer Aid and during a challenge on League of their Own.
We will gloss over the fact that former cruiserweight world champion Bellew conceded four times in 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge as England defeated the Rest of the World XI 6-2 in 2024.
Lauren Price - right back
Lauren Price has tried her hand at many sports, and found success in pretty much all of them. Her biggest sporting achievements come in solo sports, with the Welshwoman a natural fighter, as evidenced by the glory achieved in boxing, taekwondo, and kickboxing.
But Price once played a team sport, representing Wales at senior level on two occasions during her football career. She featured for Cardiff City and once trialled with women’s giants Chelsea, captaining Wales at youth level.
James Chance/Getty Images
A defender, in 2014 Price quit football to focus on boxing. A gold medal at the Olympics in 2020 and a unified welterweight title has since followed, with Price now eyeing up undisputed status at 147lbs.
Any football team would appreciate international experience, so Price slots in at right-back.
Anthony Joshua - centre back
Based on Anthony Joshua’s athletic 6ft 6in frame, it is no surprise that he excelled at multiple disciplines. Prior to picking up boxing, AJ featured for many youth teams in his home county of Hertfordshire, including semi-professional outfit St Albans City.
A nippy winger with pace to burn, Joshua’s coaches suggested converting the forward into a centre-back. Before that transition could happen, AJ started to take boxing more seriously, choosing his Olympic dream over football.
A gold medal at his home Olympics in 2012, combined with two reigns as heavyweight world champion, it is hard to argue with Joshua’s choice.
In our team, Joshua’s combination of height, strength, and speed will help the side keep the ball out of the back of their net.
(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Otto Wallin - centre back
Modern football managers aim to have one right-footed centre-back partnered by a left-footer, so we’ve enlisted the services of southpaw heavyweight Otto Wallin.
Slightly smaller than former opponent Anthony Joshua at 6ft 5in, the Swede’s Viking-like features should strike fear into the hearts of opposition strikers. His height will also prove useful in both boxes.
Josh Taylor - left back
The only undisputed champion from Britain in the four-belt era, Josh Taylor is football-obsessed. That much has been made clear by the Scot’s outspoken desire of staging a fight at Easter Road, the home of his beloved Hibernian.
When he is not preparing for a fight, Taylor can be seen in the stands cheering on the Hibs. A strong counterpuncher, the side will rely on southpaw Taylor to get forward and hit sides on the counter.
Ricky Hatton - Central midfield
Former world champion Ricky Hatton is another British fighter known for their connection to their local football club. Once on the books of Manchester City as a youngster, Hatton’s ringwalk featured the club’s anthem, Blue Moon.
The Mancunian compared his playing style to that of Roy Keane and Vinnie Jones, two hard-tacking enforcers in the middle of the park. Here, Hatton’s diminutive stature will be more than made up by his aggression.
GettyImages
Modern football is dominated by pressing, so Hatton’s front-foot, in-your-face style also translates well.
Curtis Woodhouse - Central midfield
Some might say it is cheating to chuck in an actual professional footballer, but Curtis Woodhouse has substantial experience in both boxing and soccer.
Capped four times by England’s Under-21s, Woodhouse started his senior career at Sheffield United, before making a £1million move to Birmingham City in 2001, where he would go on to make three appearances in the Premier League.
A year after fulfilling a boyhood dream and playing for the club he supported, Hull City, Woodhouse made the switch to boxing.
Between 2006 and 2017 he would fight 31 times, winning 24 bouts and losing the other seven.
Defeated on the two occasions he challenged for a Commonwealth title, first at lightweight against Derry Matthews, and then super lightweight against Willie Limond, Woodhouse did enjoy some success.
In 2014 he became British super-lightweight champion after defeating Darren Hamilton by split decision, the highlight of his boxing career.
As a footballer, he was a tough tackling enforcer of a centre-midfielder, injecting further aggression into the middle of the park.
Chris Billam-Smith - Holding midfield
Like most Brits, Chris Billam-Smith played football growing up. A more than competent player, his connection to the game has continued thanks to his involvement with AFC Bournemouth. This summer ‘CBS’ travelled out to America to manage an AFCB seven-a-side team in The Soccer Tournament, showcasing his tactical chops.
Billam-Smith's stamina and uncanny ability to find a second wind makes him a vital inclusion in the middle of the park, whilst his calmness in front of goading opponents is somewhat needed with the aggressive midfield duo of Woodhouse and Hatton.
The former WBO cruiserweight world champion has a winning record whilst fighting on football pitches – both home and away.
Billam-Smith became a world champion by defeating Lawrence Okolie in front of a home crowd at his beloved AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, before a year later ‘The Gentleman’ defended his crown against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurt Park, home of Crystal Palace.
After losing his WBO title to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in November 2024, Billam-Smith returned to the ring on the undercard of Eubank Jr-Benn in April, defeating Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oleksandr Usyk - Right wing
Undisputed at two different weight classes, Oleksandr Usyk is not just a professional boxer. Ahead of entering the Ukrainian Olympic programme, Usyk trained with SC Tavriya Simferopol until the age of 15.
Uysk would make his professional football debut at the age of 36, coming off the bench for FC Polissya Zhytomyr in a pre-season friendly against UPL Veres.
Nathan Catantan/Queensberry
The southpaw played on the right wing, and we will also put him on the flank. That will allow the Ukrainian to cut in on his favoured left foot, and with his quick footwork, Usyk clearly has the hallmarks of a silky winger.
Joe Calzaghe - Left wing
Aside from his surname, proud Welshman Joe Calzaghe’s Italian heritage shines through via the football club he supports – Juventus.
He also has a soft spot for local club Cardiff City, and has worn the club’s colours in a charity match, but the former unified super middleweight champion clearly has a great passion for football.
He appeared in the 2010 addition of Soccer Aid on the left wing for the Rest of the World XI, managed by one his heroes in former Juventus and Wales striker Ian Rush.
John Gichigi/Getty Images
With his side trailing England 2-0, another ex-Juventus player in the form of Zinedine Zidane played in Westlife singer Shane Filan, who cut the ball back to Calzaghe to tap home in front of 65,493 at Old Trafford.
Calzaghe would later hold his nerve in the penalty shootout, scoring his spot kick as the Rest of the World picked up their first Soccer Aid victory. The ‘Pride of Wales’ will mirror Usyk on the other wing, being able to come inside onto his stronger foot.
Leon McKenzie – Striker
Again, perhaps we are slightly cheating with the premise by including another professional footballer-turned-boxer, but the fact that Leon McKenzie scored goals in the Premier League means it would be foolish to look elsewhere to lead the line.
McKenzie scored seven goals in 37 Premier League appearances for struggling Norwich City during the 2004/05 season, arguably the highlight of his playing career. He would play in each of England’s top six divisions, winning promotion to the top flight on two occasions – once with first club Crystal Palace, and once with Norwich.
His father Clinton McKenzie was British and European super lightweight champion, and shortly after Leon ended his footballing career, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a professional boxer.
McKenzie would retire with a record of 8-2-1, with three of his wins coming by knockout. He challenged for the English super middleweight title in 2016, but lost to Jahmaine Smyle via a split decision.
Tyson Fury – Manager
Tyson Fury is fresh off the back of making his managerial debut at Soccer Aid last month, alongside Wayne Rooney and Robbie Williams.
A Carlos Tevez-led comeback saw Fury-managed England contrive to lose despite being 3-1 up on the hour mark, but if anyone knows how to make a stunning return, it is Fury.
The former heavyweight world champion is a lifelong fan of Manchester United, and has previously owned shares in Morecambe.
One thing is for sure - no player would slack off in fear of being called a "dosser" by the ‘Gypsy King’.
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 .
