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Usyk-Dubois 2: The Ukrainian wrecking machine set to shine on Wembley undercard
Oleksandr Usyk has followed in the footsteps of fellow Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to dominate the heavyweight division and will get the chance to prove his supremacy once more when he faces Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday night.
Ukraine has a proud history in boxing’s blue-riband division, with Vitali Klitschko also enjoying a long championship reign alongside his brother.
And the Eastern European nation could have another heavyweight ready to make a major splash.
Vladyslav Sirenko will feature on the Usyk-Dubois undercard this weekend against Britain’s Solomon Dacres, and he comes with a fearsome reputation.
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Who is Vladyslav Sirenko?
The 30-year-old – who stands at 6ft 3in tall, just like Usyk - has had 22 professional fights and won them all, with 19 of his victories coming via knockout.
He turned professional in 2017 and has made short work of most of his opponents to date.
It has not all been straightforward for Sirenko, though. Many of his fights have been on foreign soil at low-key events in South Africa, Germany and the USA.
He was also out of the ring for almost two-and-a-half years between December 2021 and April 2024, losing valuable time during what ought to have been his peak years.
But he returned last year to win three fights in six months and was not extended beyond the fourth round in any of them.
Will Solomon Dacres test Sirenko?
Now, Sirenko will get his opportunity to shine on a huge card in front of tens of thousands of fans and Dacres should provide him with a stern test.
Dacres has only had 10 professional fights but won the English heavyweight title in 2023 and made a successful defence before he was stopped inside a round by David Adeleye last December.
That was a big blow for Dacres to lose so emphatically to his domestic foe, but he will be hungry to bounce back against Sirenko.
This means Sirenko cannot take victory for granted, and he will be desperate to put in a strong performance to move up the heavyweight rankings.
Sirenko's time to shine
Sirenko already holds wins over experienced campaigners including Alexander Ustinov, ex-Anthony Joshua opponent Denis Bakhtov and veteran journeyman Kamil Sokolowski.
Beating Dacres would be another step in the right direction as he looks to kick on after enduring a frustrating lack of activity in recent years.
Heavyweight boxing looks set to enter a new era shortly, with Usyk, Fury, Joshua and Deontay Wilder all in the twilight of their careers.
The next crop of stars need to step forward, and a dominant victory for Ukraine’s latest wrecking machine on Saturday could mark Sirenko out as one to watch over the coming years.
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.
