Daniel Dubois may be the underdog in his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, but boxing legend Johnny Nelson believes there’s a path to victory for him. The former cruiserweight world champion believes replicating the strategy that led to his stunning knockout of Anthony Joshua could be the key.
Dubois, 27, lost to Usyk in 2023, when he was stopped in the ninth round, having controversially been adjudged to have landed a low blow which dropped his opponent in the fifth. Dubois has since bounced back, securing the IBF world heavyweight title and defeating Joshua in devastating fashion in September 2024. Despite his fifth-round triumph over Joshua, ‘Dynamite’ is not favoured by bookmakers to beat Usyk. However, Nelson, who held the WBO cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006, insists an upset can’t be discounted. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Fighting, courtesy of NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Nelson said: “I think Daniel Dubois has one chance and that’s a puncher’s chance.
“And anybody and everybody will know that he has a puncher’s chance. And he had a great puncher’s chance with Anthony Joshua. And once he got him once, that punch did it for him.”
Usyk has suggested the Dubois showdown could be the second-to-last fight of his illustrious career. Nelson said: “So when Usyk’s talking about retirement, now that seed has started to grow.
“And again, he might really mean it, but in years to come, when he has walked away, [he’ll] be thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll just come back for one more.’
“[Wladimir] Klitschko, he was thinking about doing it last year! You’d never think these guys would do it, but you just think, ‘One [fight].’ So with Usyk talking about it, I do believe he’s probably thinking, ‘I’m tired, I want to enjoy the trappings of my success.'”
Given his remarkable achievements in the ring, it’s only fair that Usyk is considered one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. His success since moving up a weight class has been nothing short of extraordinary.
However, as he approaches his 39th birthday in January, it’s natural for the seasoned fighter to contemplate retirement. Despite his undiminished hunger for victory, Dubois’ superior physicality – and possibly fitness – could tip the scales in his favour this time.
Those familiar with ‘Dynamite’s’ prowess know that the Londoner, who has won 21 of his 22 fights by knockout, possesses the power to defeat any opponent. Therefore, Nelson cannot completely discount the IBF titleholder as he attempts to achieve what both Tyson Fury and Joshua failed to do twice.