Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk returns to the hoop on Saturday, although now not in opposition to the opponent boxing lovers had been hoping for. Instead than a showdown with WBC champ Tyson Arouse to crown an undisputed champion, Usyk will guard his WBA, IBF and WBO titles in opposition to Daniel Dubois on Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland.

The clash with Arouse has been mentioned, teased or even in brief negotiated. However, later the 2 aspects failed to return to phrases, Usyk’s consideration became towards his checklist of obligatory challengers. The primary guy up was once WBA obligatory Dubois.

The Brit has been mountain climbing the ranks to contender situation since struggling a setback within the method of a TKO loss to Joe Joyce in November 2020. In June 2022, Dubois picked up a dominant win over Trevor Bryan to win the WBA’s secondary identify. The win over Bryan was once Dubois’ 3rd for the reason that loss to Joyce and put him in form for the largest clash of his occupation.

“I’m ready. I’ve suffered through training camp. I’ve done all of that. I’m ready now. I’ve prepared,” Dubois mentioned on the ultimate press convention. “I’ve left no stone unturned. I’m ready. I’m confident. I’m ready to go right now.”

Can’t get enough quantity boxing and MMA? Get the original on this planet of battle sports activities from two of the most productive within the industry. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the most productive research and in-depth information, together with an entire preview of Usyk vs. Dubois underneath.

Issues virtually got here tumbling i’m sick for Dubois in his nearest trip. Protecting his secondary belt in opposition to unheralded heavyweight Kevin Lerena, Dubois strike the canvas 3 times within the opening spherical via a mix of having stuck with punches and a knee shock. In spite of the horrific begin to the clash, Dubois got here again and scored the stoppage later 3 rounds.

Usyk, a former undisputed champion at cruiserweight, has been out of motion for a week. In his most up-to-date clash, Usyk beat Anthony Joshua via choice in a rematch in their September 2021 bout that was once additionally the clash the place Usyk gained his 3 global titles. That was once additionally simplest Usyk’s fourth clash at heavyweight.

“My preparation is all good. We did a lot of work with swimming. We played football. We danced,” Usyk mentioned on the ultimate press convention. “I’m grateful to my team, my family, my wife. I’m grateful to my country and to Ukrainian soldiers.”

Will have to Usyk do as anticipated via mavens and on the sportsbook window, the place he’s a -1200 favourite to win, lovers will once more flip their hopes to Usyk and Arouse with the ability to put together a offer to crown the primary undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt while. That still calls for Arouse to do the anticipated and win his Oct. 28 bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

With the way in which earlier negotiations for the Arouse clash have fallen aside even if Usyk’s facet indubitably to the trim finish of a 70/30 handbag fracture, those self same lovers most likely might not be keeping their breath that the clash will come in combination.

IBF obligatory challenger Filip Hrgovic is nearest in form and has already mentioned he now not simplest does now not be expecting Arouse and Usyk to return to phrases for the clash but additionally has disagree want to shoot step-aside cash to permit it to journey via.

“They don’t want to do that fight, Fury’s fighting some guy who’s never boxed before, they don’t want to do that,” Hrgovic advised TalkSport. “So fight your mandatories, I’m not gonna step aside and I want to get my shot. I deserve it, I work hard, I’ve been in this sport for 17 years and I want to get my chance.”

For the reason that Usyk has simplest fought as soon as every calendar week since 2019, it’s imaginable that Usyk vs. Arouse would possibly by no means occur as Usyk will flip 37 in January.

Let’s shoot a better take a look at how you’ll be able to catch the motion on Saturday evening in Poland sooner than attending to a prediction and select at the major match underneath.

Struggle card, odds

• Oleksandr Usyk (c) -1200 vs. Daniel Dubois +750, WBA, WBO, IBF heavyweight titles 
  

Viewing knowledge

Time: Aug. 26 | Get started era: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Tarczyński Area Wrocław — Wroclaw, Poland
TV channel: ESPN+

Prediction

Dubois has a cast jab and excellent energy in his proper hand. That may be enough quantity for any heavyweight to win a clash. Heavyweight is, via its nature, a chaotic section the place a unmarried punch can trade the whole lot and Dubois has the correct of weapon in his proper hand to catch someone and end a clash.

That mentioned, Dubois’ knee betrayed him in his most up-to-date trip and his visual has been vulnerable to harm for the reason that Joyce clash. Usyk is slick, gifted and superb at making in-fight changes, as he displayed in each Joshua fights, however particularly the rematch. Dubois isn’t getting to outbox Usyk over 12 rounds and most likely must discover a fight-changing punch early or Usyk will draw back temporarily at the scorecards.

Future Dubois has simplest long gone the gap as soon as in his skilled occupation, it’s not going Usyk offers him a anticipation to combine it up and discover a end and similarly not going that Usyk will chance bulky exchanges that get him the end. Pick out: Usyk by means of UD