Oleksandr Usyk was barely known outside the hardcore boxing circles when the longtime promoter Kalle Sauerland and I spoke for the first time about his adventure, the World Boxing Super Series, in 2017.
Sauerland described it as a “Gladiator Dating Game” as fighters in two weight categories, including Cruiserweight, sized in a swimming pool in Monte Carlo, in front of a glamor gala of the red carpet that was fighting which was fighting which in the inaugural quarter -finals of the tournament.
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I will always remember Sauerland saying that its two supports of $ 25 million would find the next Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, who both remained the names of renowned at the time.
Promotional blister? Maybe. But maybe Sauerland was on something.
Only a few, however, could have expected the Usyk to become this world superstar.
The Ukrainian, gold medalist of the 2012 Olympic Games, ran through WBSS, beating Marco Huck by Ko, Mayriis Briedis by decision and Murat Gassiev on points. If USYK was not even favored at the start of the tournament, it had quickly become the clear number 1 of the whole division a year – and three fights – later.
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After Usyk defeated Tony Bellew at the end of 2018, effectively eliminating all the Cruiserweight division, he moved to Anthony Joshua (Tyson Fury (Tyson Fury (twice), he moved to quickly establish his time in Tyson Fury (Tyson Fury (twice).
Eight years ago, Sauerland's words were premonitory – today, the Usyk is generally interrupted somewhere between n ° 1 (as he is for without crown) And n ° 3 books for books worldwide, according to how it is classified, alongside Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, the latter, that also winner of the WBSS tournament.
Sauerland was still right. His tournaments have helped to find basic food today.
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USYK experienced a generational boxing race. But the big reigns often end.
And, July 19 at the Wembley stadium in LondonDaniel Dubois will take the Throne of Usyk at the top of the heavyweight – and sport division.
Breakout 'Dynamite “
I never had FOMO only once after leaving England in 2021 to work in the United States. Great Britain fought the Fandom, but Las Vegas at the UFC, the big boxing events and an abundance of combatants crossing the city for the camps. I have never regretted this decision.
The last fight that I have never attended as a journalist defeated for boxing in London was Joshua's first fight against the Usyk in 2021, which he lost by unbalanced decision. Despite the widespread feeling of disappointment among the 66,227 people who attended, it was an incredible experience when the British government raised the last of its rigorous locking linked to the pandemic during the combat week.
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I head to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, you could feel the feeling of freedom that I never wanted to take for granted in the United States. It was an atmosphere of carnival in the streets of northern London before the opening bell, with music, food trucks selling chicken jerk and joshua merch flying shelves. There was beer everywhere. People without mask sung with the content of their hearts. London had healed.
Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua brought back life to British boxing in 2021. (Julian Finney / Getty Images)
(Julian Finney via Getty Images)
The only time I dreamed of being back in London was when Joshua fought Dubois in 2024. I had known Dubois since he was an amateur, when he trained at the city's peacock gymnasium, which is the club that taught me box and prepared me for a few fights of “white passes”. I would run on treadmills right next to Dubois. I frequently watched it Spar. Everyone in this gym has always felt that he had become champion. It was just a question of knowing when.
Joshua had rebounded his consecutive defeats at the Usyk in 2021-222 by jetting Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. He was still the dangerous murderer with the physical obstacle who had revitalized sport in Great Britain. He was the box office draw. He was a stadium fighter who rivaled with the national football team of England with regard to the tickets sold in the largest sites of the country. He was still the guy who had beaten Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.
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Anyway, Dubois was magnificent in the night, giving Joshua the most ruthless beat he ever had as a pro – much worse, even that Andy Ruiz Jr. gave him during their first fight in 2019. Joshua at least struck Ruiz on the fabrics before he lost at the end. Against Dubois, he was never really in the fight.
Dubois attacked Joshua of the opening bell, exceeding the former heavy goods vehicle champion twice by a ratio greater than two to one, and dropping him in the last seconds with a right on hand. Dubois again dropped Joshua in the third round, the fourth, and, when Joshua tried to go out in the fifth, Dubois smashed him so brilliantly that Joshua almost collapsed through the strings. The referee counted it. The reign of Joshua as one of the best in Great Britain was finished.
With the retreat of Tyson Fury and the victory over Joshua, he had never been clearer than the ascent of Dubois on the British throne was finally finished. NOW? His next stop is the world.
Daniel Dubois drops Anthony Joshua on the way to a seismic victory at the Wembley stadium. (Images Bradley Collyer / PA via Getty Images)
(Bradley Collyer – PA Images via Getty Images)
For inheritance
Dubois should challenge Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title on July 19 while it puts its global IBF heavyweight belt online alongside WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
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Although they have already fought once, With USYK winning by controversial stop at the ninth roundDubois has gone more and more force in the fighting since, winning three in a row, all by Ko, against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgović and Joshua.
Against Miller, he was not imperturbable by the size of his opponent and hammered heavy blows while standing in front of the American, absorbing brutal punches to show his own resilience, before hitting Miller with straight hands and unpleasant hook to force a 10th round stop.
Against Hrgović, Dubois has boxed with precision and power, with a game of legs to come, and bloodied the Croatian's face with cuts so horrible that the doctor of the ring advised the referee to cancel him.
And against Joshua, Dubois has succeeded in the performance of his career – and now has an extraordinary momentum in his potentially decisive confrontation with Usyk.
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An age gap between 11 years separates Usyk from Dubois, and although the race of the unified champion is worthy of the enthronement of the renowned boxing temple, each large reign ends.
Dubois bounced accusations of being an abandonment Against Joe Joyce in 2020, to present an impeccable finishing power combined with an ability to resist fire from various heavy goods vehicles.
Boxed Victories can often be a matter of timing. With the series of the form that Dubois was on, and with Usyk being older and after two wars with Tyson Fury, the timing could never be better for Dubois to dethrone the king and to start his own reign as one of the first fighters of the new generation.
