QUEENSBERRY Promotions boss Frank Warren has doubled down on his desire to deliver a rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, this time for the undisputed crown.
Heavyweight king Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), emerged from their first encounter back in 2023 with a comprehensive ninth-round stoppage victory, halting his fatigued opponent with a thudding jab.
But still, Dubois, 22-2 (21 KOs), remains convinced that, despite the referee ruling it a low blow, the punch he landed in the fifth round of their clash was a legal body shot.
In any case, the 27-year-old has looked a vastly improved version of his former self since losing to the formidable Ukrainian.
Wins inside the distance against Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller – two sturdy contenders – saw him enter a monumental showdown against Anthony Joshua last September as the IBF world heavyweight champion.
Sure enough, Dubois only extended his momentum with a stunning fifth-round stoppage victory over the two-time titlist, firmly establishing himself as one of the sport’s most destructive punchers.
But now, it appears as though Warren, his promoter, is still weighing up several options for his next outing, with the future of Usyk remaining somewhat unclear.
“[Dubois] will fight sometime in June or July, in a big fight here in the UK,” Warren told Boxing News. “I’d like to see the revenge match with Usyk. Will it happen? I don’t know. If it doesn’t, then we’ve got quite a few things to consider.”
The plan, it seems, is for Dubois to secure a stadium fight against Usyk this summer.
But while that may be the preferred option for Usyk, too, the 38-year-old has nonetheless been ordered to defend his WBO strap against mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.
Like Dubois, Parker has enjoyed a terrific surge of form, with his second-round finish over late replacement Martin Bakole last month following points victories over fearsome punchers Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
And so, should the New Zealander face Usyk next, it is likely that Dubois will instead defend his red and gold strap against IBF mandatory challenger Derek Chisora.
“If there’s no unification, Joseph Parker has been ordered to fight him [Usyk] for the WBO title,” Warren added. “So Usyk has a choice of four belts, unification, fight Joseph Parker or vacate the WBO title.
“They will be his choices. [Will he] retire? I don’t know, but that will be his choice.”
Whatever the outcome, Warren finds himself in a favourable position, with Usyk’s next assignment more than likely being against a Queensberry fighter.
Dubois, Parker and Chisora all belong to his flourishing stable of heavyweights, but also Fabio Wardley and Lawrence Okolie – who are the number one-ranked contenders with the WBA and WBC respectively – could soon leverage their lofty positions.
“Whatever way you want to look at it, with Usyk, he’s number one,” Warren said.
“[But with] every one of his mandatories, he’s got to fight one of our guys. So it’s brilliant, it’s fantastic and I’m looking forward to it.”
