Current The Ring heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is scheduled to take on WBA regular heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in a heavily anticipated fight on July 19, 2025. The fight has been booked for April and will take place at Wembley Stadium in London. It’s a high-stakes bout for the undisputed title that’s generating a lot of buzz in the boxing community.
It also serves as a rematch for the boxers. They met earlier in 2023, when Usyk defeated Dubois in the 9th round. The July rematch has a lot more on the line, and will be Usyk’s fourth chance to retain the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.
Who’s the Favourite?
After two impressive fights against Tyson Fury and wins against Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk is the favourite to retain his titles. If you’re into betting with UK boxing bookmakers, the odds for the iconic Ukrainian boxer are 3/10. Dubois is placed at 7/2, making him an underdog for the July 15 bout. For anyone who isn’t impressed by the bout winner odds, there are a plethora of other options. The top UK bookies offer round betting as well, method of victory, and even live betting markets.
And he certainly has the resume for it. Usyk has been one of the most dominant figures in heavyweight boxing in the past decade. He has faced many champions recently, defeating Joshua for the title, and defending it once against Dubois and twice against Tyson Fury.
The diminutive Ukrainian boxer has great footwork and technique, and knows how to defend. All of his skills will be put to the ultimate test against Dubois, who’s known for his formidable punching power. Being an Englishman, Dubois will also have slight home-court advantage. He’s also much younger than Usyk, which might contribute to his performance.
However, experts are clear. Usyk remains the favourite thanks to his experience and recent results. Should he win, he’ll retain the plethora of titles and extend his no-loss record to 25 wins. That’s a result that will put him into the pantheon of boxing legends.
The Case for Oleksandr Usyk
Most experts agree on one thing – Usyk has the arsenal to take down the younger Daniel Dubois. WBC international champion and Usyk compatriot Fedir Cherkashyn favours Usyk heavily.
Cherkashyn cites Usyk’s mental strength and determination as the key factors behind his eventual victory. The Ukrainian boxer was provoked by Dubois during at the press conference, which Cherkashyn sees as an attempt to break him psychologically. But as he says, anyone who knows Oleksandr Usyk understands that such things don’t faze him. In fact, it’s just extra fuel he needs to destroy his opponent.
One of the biggest x-factors for Usyk in this and any other fight is that he enters with a cool head. He doesn’t provoke before the bell and rarely loses his temper. In a fight with unified titles on the line, that will play a key role.
Usyk will likely start strategically and assess his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Of course, his camp has already watched hundreds of videos, so a strategy is likely in place before the bell rings. But Usyk will use his head to see if Dubois has changed anything prior to the fight that might turn into a surprise.
The Ukrainian won’t wait for long. As soon as he sees an opening, he’ll likely head for a shot. The fact that Dubois is bigger than hit doesn’t mean anything. Just ask Tyson Fury. Usyk is a resilient fighter who can take on anyone, and his punching power is fantastic, even if a dip below Dubois’.
Tony Bellew, a former heavyweight boxer who met Usyk in 2018, believes that the fight will go down the line. He says that Usyk is dangerous toward the finish, and may hit a stoppage time win once again. Bellew had a lot of praise for the Ukrainian, calling him the best heavyweight in the world.
Overall, most experts believe that Usyk has enough power to win against Dubois once again. The match in 2023 ended in controversy, as Usyk won with a shot that was deemed an illegal low blow. But that fight is over, and Daniel Dubois is looking for a chance at redemption.
The Case for Daniel Dubois
The English boxer doesn’t have the resume of Oleksandr Usyk. He has two losses—one of them coming against Usyk—and he’s been on his back heels more than once. However, as Bellew pointed out, he personally wrote him off in a few fights that Dubois managed to win.
He’s a resistant fighter with a towering figure whose best strength are those punches. Usyk doesn’t leave too many openings, but it’s clear that Dubois can drop anyone with a single shot. In many of his fights, Dubois handled the business in the early rounds. That was the case against Joe Cusumano (round 1), Bogdan Dinu (round 2), and even Anthony Joshua, whom Dubois dropped in round 5.
Experts believe that he’ll come out guns blazing, which may or may not work. Dubois can get heated and will likely be looking to put Usyk on the defensive. Also, he’s very fired up before the fight, and is dreaming of becoming the first man to drop the Ukrainian.
For Dubois, this fight is everything. He has a clear shot at redemption and can unify all titles, so his determination will be a driving factor at Wembley.
Who Wins It All?
With experience on his side, Usyk is a favourite for this match. Boxing experts back him up, and we might see him unify all titles on July 19.
While Dubois’ odds are longer, he certainly has a shot, too. Experts believe that a more methodical approach is needed to defeat a champion like Usyk, which might be contradictory to Dubois’ heated personality.
One thing’s for sure – the boxing world is set for a spectacle. Tune in on July 19 and let’s see who becomes the best heavyweight in the world.
