Five trump cards of Daniel Dubois in a duel with Oleksandr Usyk
On August 26, WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland. The British boxer is a clear underdog. However, it should not be written off. We talk about the five trump cards of Daniel Dubois in a duel with Oleksandr Usyk.
Physiology
If we talk exclusively about anthropometry, then Dubois is not much superior to Usyk. The Briton is only six centimeters taller – 196 against 191, and five and a half kilograms heavier (at least immediately before the fight) 105.8 kg against 100.2 kg. At the same time, Usyk and Dubois have the same arm span – 198 centimeters.
It’s about what has to be said before each of Usyk’s last five fights: the Ukrainian is not a natural heavyweight, while his opponents box in their usual weight. As one of the journalists joked, Dubois did not weigh 90 kilograms from the age of 13. And if so, then Dubois hits like a real heavyweight and is already used to acting in the ring at his weight. Yes, Usyk is completely different from any of the previous opponents of the Brit, however, perhaps a bet on the manner of a heavyweight, and not a player, can play out in a duel against a Ukrainian. Hence the next advantage of Daniel.
Power
Even discarding the level of opposition of the Briton, one cannot pass by an outstanding result: 18 early victories in 19 winning matches. So far, only the once-good American boxer, and now a freak, tempted by Russian money, Kevin Johnuson, has managed to go the whole distance with Dubois. None of the other 18 Brit opponents could last more than five rounds. 12 – lost in two starting three-minute periods.
Dubois really has power in his fists, moreover, he hits equally hard from the left and from the right. Plus, unlike Joshua, he seems to know how to play against such technical boxers.
Ability to work serially
Joshua seemed to be an excellent technically trained boxer, but he never managed to adapt to the fast Usyk in order to throw out, let alone deliver a series of three or four punches (as was the case in the fight with Wladimir Klitschko, even though the Briton was quickly losing strength). From single bombs or deuces, Joshua Alexander got away great. Due to the powerful and fast jab, Dubois knows how to shorten the distance, and he prepares / uses the right one not only for a single strike.
But if Dubois does not have a plan B, and the initial bet on works, the Briton will not stand a chance. Perhaps a change in coach will help him with this.
Don Charles
For the fight with Usyk, the British boxer changed his coach. Daniel left Shane McGuigan, who is considered one of the best specialists in Britain, for Don Charles. The choice is quite logical – it was Charles who prepared Chisora and was in Derek’s corner during his fight with Usyk, which so far has become the most difficult for the Ukrainian in heavyweight.
Charles’ ideas for Chisora, as well as his tips during the fight, worked: constant pressure, pressure, body shots in an attempt to slow down, cutting corners – this seems to be the perfect plan for a counterpuncher. Derek also did a great job. Dubois is younger than Chisora, much better prepared technically and hits harder.
no pressureI
Dubois is a clear underdog whom no one will condemn. But they will lift to the top in case of victory. High expectations have already played a cruel joke with Daniel in the fight with Joyce and it seems that he will not allow this again. Yes, at all pre-match events, the Briton looked constrained, but we can attribute this to the fact that he has not yet participated in such large-scale media events.
But in the fight with Lerain, Dubois proved that he has character. In any case, even with a leg injury, he managed to win ahead of schedule. In the duel with Usik, Daniel will have to turn on his character by 200%: if he does not give up after the first unsuccessful rounds, he will have a chance.
Instead of a resume
Dubois give little chance in the fight with Usyk. But a heavyweight boxer with an excellent punch, a good school, a fairly rich experience, youth and pressure cannot be written off. He will definitely get his chance, but how he will use it is another question.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
