Exclusive: Daniel Dubois happy to be underdog against Oleksandr Usyk but says he’s aiming for a ‘comprehensive finish’

British boxer Daniel Dubois is relishing his position as underdog as he prepares to take on unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the chance to seize control of three out of four of the sport’s most prestigious titles.

The undefeated Ukrainian will meet Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland, where the majority of spectators will be in Usyk’s corner after moving to the country to escape their war-torn homeland.

“It’s the world, it’s everything,” he said. “It’s every heavyweight fighter’s dream to fight for all the belts, unified titles. It’s what I’ve been working towards. It means so much to me right now, I’m ready to go, let’s get it on,” he said.

Asked where his desire to reach the top of the sport came from, Dubois responded: “My Dad always told me before I even started boxing, ‘You want to be heavyweight champion’. We were watching Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno and all them guys.

“They did it so now it’s my turn.

“They laid the foundations. It’s my time now. I’ve been working hard. I’ve been in the gym. I’ve been through ups and downs. I’ve learnt my lessons and I’m ready to take them on, take all them belts.”

Dubois beat Kevin Lerena in London in December – despite being dropped three times in the opening rounds – to retain his regular version of the WBA World Heavyweight title.

Usyk holds the WBO, IBF and WBA (Super) belts and his undefeated record makes him the favourite going into his showdown with mandatory challenger Dubois.

“It’s not pressure for me, you know, this fight, it’s no pressure,” Dubois said. “I’ve got to go in there and I’ve got to do a job on him. The bookies and all that, it is what it is. He’s the favourite, we all know that already, so there’s no pressure for me.”

An apparent lack of pressure has allowed the London-born fighter to enjoy a focused training camp as he prepares to face his biggest challenge yet.

“It’s not relaxed, but it’s all just clear. The path is clear. Not too many noises, not too many voices trying to pull you around here and there. I don’t listen to that anyway, so that wouldn’t make a difference, but it’s good to be the underdog. That’s what I like.”

Dubois has suffered just one defeat in his twenty professional fights. That came at the hands of Joe Joyce by way of knockout in 2020.

Largely, Dubois has had it his own way, with his supreme punching power seeing his 19 victories wrapped up in quick time, with just one fight going the distance.

However, Usyk is a different beast altogether and the Brit opened up on how he has been preparing for the bout.

“Southpaws at heavyweight are hard to find so a lot of cruiserweight sparring. A lot of southpaw sparring. I know I’ve got what it takes. I’m young, I’m strong and I’m just ready to let it all out on fight night,” Dubois told Frampton.

The strength Dubois speaks about will be his biggest weapon, knowing catching Usyk with one punch of power could end the Ukrainian’s reign.

“That’s heavyweight boxing. That’s what I know. This is the heavyweight game. This is the real deal, this is it. Now I get a chance to make my dreams come true, fulfill my destiny and whatever else it takes, I’m going to do it,” he said.

Dubois does have added intelligence in his corner too, with Don Charles working as his trainer.

Charles previously provided guidance to Derek Chisora, who took Usyk all the way in 2020 but lost by a unanimous decision.

Dubois knows that could prove useful and said: “Having that experience there and having a guy that has been there, he’s trained a fighter to do it and he has a bit of a blueprint.

“He’s a heavyweight. He knows how to train heavyweights. Heavyweights are specialist fighters, I think, and you need a proper trainer to train a heavyweight.”

Another British boxer to succumb to Usyk’s dominance is Anthony Joshua, who was beaten twice in a row by the Ukrainian – by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and on a split decision in Saudi Arabia.

Having watched those contests, Dubois said: “The first fight, AJ [Joshua] was a bit too cautious for me, to fight Usyk definitely you’ve got to rough him up, haven’t you? It’s no secret. You can’t stand there trying to outbox him or anything, you’ve got to rough him up. “

So, what is Dubois’ plan to hand Usyk his first defeat?

“Fight harder than before. Just do everything more than before than I’ve ever done. Fight harder, fight stronger. You know, he’s a great champion but everything with a beginning has an end and I’m ready to just prove it. It’s my time.

“It’s important to hold your head together in a fight. It’s twelve rounds or, however long it takes, you’ve got to be ready for the twelve rounds so just hold yourself together and go out there and be a professional. Fight hard. This is it. Do you want it or not? That’s the mentality I’ve got. All or nothing.”

Venturing to twelve rounds would be something new for Dubois, and he knows his best chance will come from a blistering start.

“It’s in Poland. It’s an away ground. It has to be something spectacular and something amazing. I want to win in style and this is, for me, the whole fight. I don’t really look to outpoint him and all that. I want a comprehensive finish,” the Briton said.

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