A deal is reportedly close to being finalised for Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois’ hotly anticipated undisputed showdown.
The pair squared off back in 2023 when Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), following a somewhat controversial fifth frame, retained his heavyweight titles with a comprehensive ninth-round stoppage victory.
Dubois, 22-2 (21 KOs), however, still claims that the fifth-round low blow was, in fact, a legal body shot, with the referee, in his view, robbing him of a monumental victory.
In any case, the pair – who have respectively established themselves as number one and two at heavyweight – will seemingly get the chance to settle their score soon enough.
According to boxing journalist Mike Coppinger, both teams are inching closer towards reaching an agreement for their clash to take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on July 12.
Since his defeat to the formidable Ukrainian, Dubois has produced a series of emphatic stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.
In doing so, the 27-year-old – now looking a vastly improved version of his former self – continues to hold the IBF strap that was previously relinquished by Usyk.
Usyk, of course, became a two-division undisputed king after outpointing Tyson Fury last year, while their rematch, though nonetheless compelling, saw the 38-year-old come away with three of the four major titles.
And so, with the masterful technician looking to regain his IBF belt, it would appear that his rematch with Dubois is all but confirmed.
The only stumbling block, meanwhile, would be WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker, who is technically next in line to face Usyk.
But instead, it would seem that the sanctioning body has more than likely allowed Queensberry promoter Frank Warren and Usyk’s manager, Alexander Krassyuk, to move ahead with negotiations for the Dubois dustup.
