DANIEL Dubois insists that his home advantage over heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will make all the difference, not just in the ring but also from a medical perspective.
The pair locked horns in a largely one-sided encounter back in 2023, with Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), drawing upon his greater experience and technical prowess to secure a ninth-round stoppage victory.
Since then, Dubois, 22-2 (21 KOs), has claimed that the low blow ruled against him in the fifth round of their clash was instead a legal body shot.
Regardless of the truth, the 27-year-old will be presented with an opportunity to exact his revenge when they square off at Wembley Stadium, London, on July 19.
Dubois has enjoyed a tremendous run of form following his second professional blemish, with stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua all rebuilding his confidence.
‘Dynamite’ then looked to extend his ruthless surge in a mouth-watering clash with Joseph Parker, one of the leading heavyweight contenders, last February.
However, an illness during fight week ultimately forced him to pull out of their contest, leaving Parker to take care of business against Martin Bakole instead.
Shortly after, Dubois’ head coach, Don Charles, told Boxing News that the ferocious puncher had suffered swollen glands before his fights with Usyk and Hrgovic, too.
And despite the fact that he had his tonsils removed a year ago, it seems to be a recurring theme for the Londoner to experience a dry throat.
Ahead of his rematch with Usyk, though, Dubois insists that any medical issues, should they resurface, would be promptly addressed.
“It’s going to be on home turf now, so we’re going to have all the right medical people around us,” he told Boxing News.
“This suits us better, and [the swollen glands] won’t be a problem at all for this fight. It’s been a problem for me, but I think I’m getting on top of it.”
