The heavyweight world titles may soon be back in the hands of a single ruler. According to The Ring writer Mike Coppinger, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are very close to finalizing a deal to face each other on July 12 at London’s Wembley Stadium. The bout would be a rematch, as the two previously met in August 2023 in Poland, with Usyk winning by knockout in the ninth round.
The Ukrainian superstar had made it clear: the only fight he truly cares about at this stage of his career is one against the heavy-handed British slugger. This preference likely stems from two factors: first, the desire to once again become the unified champion after relinquishing his IBF belt to allow Tyson Fury a rematch; and second, the will to silence the controversy that followed the first bout with Dubois.
That fight, held at Stadion Wroclaw, featured a highly debated moment. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a hard uppercut to the lower abdomen of Usyk, which was ruled a low blow by the referee. The Ukrainian needed several minutes to recover before the action resumed. Some argue the punch was legal and that Dubois should have been declared the winner by knockout.
While it’s impossible to know if Usyk would have gotten up in time had the referee counted him out, many experts have pointed out that the blow landed below the navel—clearly within the “no-go zone.”
Despite Usyk winning almost every round on the official scorecards and scoring two knockdowns en route to a TKO victory, many have been calling for a rematch ever since—to finally put the controversy to rest. The excitement has only grown with Dubois’ recent string of victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua, which not only earned him the IBF title but also showed notable improvements in both skill and mental strength.
If the fight is confirmed, Wembley Stadium will likely become a cauldron of noise, with British fans cheering on their hometown hero. For Usyk, it would be the eleventh time he’s fought in his opponent’s country as a professional—an astonishing stat that underscores his exceptional mental toughness and ability to convincingly win on foreign soil without leaving anything to the judges.
The WBC, WBA, and WBO world champion recently turned 38 and is likely nearing the end of his extraordinary career. We’ll soon find out if he has one more masterpiece in him against a hungry, dangerous opponent who’s both younger and heavier.