WITH any generational talent, even the slightest chink in their armour can appear glaringly obvious, often to an extent where it has been blown astronomically out of proportion.
Indeed, such little room for failure only ever lends itself to greater scrutiny, and with Oleksandr Usyk, it seems that he has become a victim of exactly that.
The bona fide heavyweight king has proven himself beyond any reasonable doubt, and yet there are still murmurings that somehow, even after everything he has achieved, he remains far from the complete package.
More specifically, the Ukrainian’s mentality – a typically sturdy ship, robust enough to sail through choppy waters – has been placed under the microscope, inspiring a series of questions – some credible, others outlandish – ahead of his rematch with Daniel Dubois this Saturday.
Predictably enough, the first discussion point that emerged has centred around Dubois’ low blow from their first encounter, to which some, including the IBF world champion himself, have responded by arguing that it was, in fact, a legal body shot.
And regardless of the validity behind that debate, Team Dubois has, quite naturally, used the incident, which took place in 2023, as ammunition to cannon into Usyk’s psychological vessel.
Likewise, the 38-year-old’s split from his long-term promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has only added fuel to the fire, not regarding any unfounded ‘quitter’ accusations, on this occasion, but more in terms of his preparation behind the scenes.
In any case, both factors, despite making for eye-catching headlines and click-worthy social media posts, are likely to have no bearing on Usyk’s performance at Wembley Stadium, London.
If anything, such comments should enhance his motivation, giving him all the more reason to become a three-time undisputed champion and, in doing so, remove any doubt over his greatness.
It ought to go without saying, too, that Usyk’s decision to resume his career, while a horrific invasion threatens the lives of his friends and family in Ukraine, provides ample evidence that he is a mentally formidable individual.
As for Dubois, 22-2 (21 KOs), it must also be said that he, more so in recent years – and perhaps to a lesser degree than his opponent – has developed a fiercely tenacious mindset.
For him, that has translated to greater exploitation of his power which, with an added layer of confidence, is only becoming more extraordinary.
And while Dubois could hardly be described as a technically-limited operator, either, his physical advantages over Usyk, 23-0 (14 KOs), are, quite simply, where his greatest strengths can be identified.
It just so happens, though, that Usyk’s technical advantages are particularly significant, perhaps even more so than his opponent’s wheelhouse of potent attacks.
OLEKSANDR USYK VS DANIEL DUBOIS 2 PREDICTION
Given a clear disparity in skill, and indeed everything that transpired in their first fight, it is difficult not to envision a world where Usyk, once again, emerges victorious.
This time around, however, Dubois – a vastly improved version of his former self – is likely to enjoy greater success, quite possibly behind a more thudding jab, only to then lose a convincing points decision on the scorecards.
