DANIEL Dubois says fans are in for a surprise when he faces Oleksandr Usyk on July 19 at Wembley Stadium.
The IBF heavyweight champion goes into his 25th contest with a chance to become Britain’s first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. There is also an opportunity for the 27-year-old to avenge his defeat to Usyk two years ago.
Having lost to Joe Joyce three years earlier Dubois put together a four-fight winning run against Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano, Trevor Bryan and Kevin Lerena, respectively. The British puncher then travelled to Poland to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for three of the four world titles. After a controversial low blow ruling against Dubois in round five the challenger eventually ran out of steam and was KO’d in the ninth.
“I believe it’s going to be totally different,” Dubois told Carl Frampton during a sit-down interview for DAZN.
“If people think that [the rematch] is going to be the same, then they’re in for a shock, a surprise even.
“I can’t wait. I know myself better, I’m trusting myself better as a fighter. Can’t wait to get in there.”
Dubois may have lost out on the chance to become unified champion against Usyk first time round but there were some positive to take.
“I feel like the fight and the training camp I did helped me massively over the next three fights,” he said.
Dubois went on to rack up an impressive run of victories against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.
“I feel like I’m a better fighter now. More improved, more conditioned and ready to be an even better version [of myself], a better soldier and just go to war.”
