“THIS is intense, I like this,” buzzed Joseph Parker as Oleksandr Usyk locked his gaze on Daniel Dubois and refused to look away. No pushing or shoving, just two professionals at the end of long, hard camps, waiting for Saturday evening.
Moments earlier, at the final press conference, ahead of their rematch battle for undisputed heavyweight status, both men, accompanied by their respective teams, spoke any final words.
Having unified both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions in double quick time, the question to Usyk, asking if Daniel Dubois had rattled him, was as surprising to the champ as anyone else present.
“No, no, no. Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t feel,” considered the Ukrainian.
Much talk has surrounded Usyk’s supposedly advanced years. At 38, with a long run of amateur and professional pugilism in the rear view mirror, Dubois reckons Father Time is knocking on the door and nobody can hide behind the sofa to avoid his gaze.
“It’s facts. You know, I know what I do. I’m a young lion and I’ve just got to take over, be the man and yeah, executing,” said Dubois, who is planning on making Usyk feel every second of his age. A reportedly sizeable bet from ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, backing Usyk to win, doesn’t bother him, or promoter Frank Warren, either.
“Don’t mean nothing to me. Don’t mean to me that I’m here. Well, he’s going to lose his money. But, you know, I’m just focused now. Let’s get it on,” the IBF champion mumbled.
In one of the more interesting exchanges across the table, Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles, was asked to comment on Egis Klimas’ claim that Daniel is the same fighter who rumbled with Usyk in Poland two years ago. Klimas believes that the body may change, but the mind and any mental weaknesses remain.
“Everybody has their opinion,” countered Charles. “That’s his opinion. We know what we’ve done. We know what we’ve been witnessing. He [Klimas] must have been sleeping for the last three fights or so that Daniel has had. He must have been fast asleep. Can somebody please wake him up?”
“While I was sleeping,” responded Klimas, “Oleksandr beat two times Tyson Fury.”
A well-placed counter shot from Klimas, who was as monosyllabic and calculated as his charge with his words. While Daniel Dubois claimed during the opening mic salvos that his preparations have taken him to a different level, Usyk ensured things remained cordial.
“I respect this guy, this young guy, this guy [is] motivated, but I’m too. I’m not old guy. 38, it’s not old,” said Usyk.
