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Oleksandr Usyk Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Daniel Dubois Is Better Than Anthony Joshua

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Oleksandr Usyk Daniel Dubois Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk is better placed than anyone to judge the skills of both Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

He then beat Dubois via KO in August of 2023, his first title defence in the division, after being down for several minutes from a shot that was ruled to be low.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

Oleksandr Usyk Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Daniel Dubois Is Better Than Anthony Joshua

READ: WBO Orders Oleksandr Usyk to Fight Joseph Parker, But There’s A Catch

Joshua has since fought Dubois for the IBF title and ended up coming unstuck and knocked out inside five rounds after putting in what many thought was a below par performance.

Speaking to TNT Sports before he faced Dubois, Usyk was asked outright who is the better boxer of the two Brits.

“Anthony Joshua is Olympic champion, two-time world champion. Daniel is a young boy, yeah? But Anthony is the best boxer.”

He elaborated on his point in a seperate interview.

“You cannot compare the two guys. These are completely different types of athletes. The only thing that is in common is that they both are boxers.”

Neither Joshua nor Dubois has fought since their clash. A rematch was on the cards but fell by the way side due to ‘niggling injuries on ‘AJ’s part. Dubois was instead scheduled to take on Joseph Parker in February but fell ill so withdrew.

Dubois has since been targeting an undisputed rematch with Usyk, but the Ukrainian has now been ordered to fight WBO mandatory Parker instead.

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WBO Orders Oleksandr Usyk to Fight Joseph Parker, But There’s A Catch

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Oleksandr Usyk Joseph Parker

The WBO has officially ordered heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to defend his title against interim champion Joseph Parker, but nothing is set in stone.

While the WBO has set a 30-day negotiation period for the fight to be arranged, the final decision rests with Usyk, and he may opt to vacate the belt in favor of a more lucrative bout against IBF champion Daniel Dubois. “Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is ordering the commencement of negotiations between the fighters to fulfill the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the Heavyweight Division,” the WBO statement says.

“As a result, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated in compliance with our policy of having only one world champion per weight class. “The parties have 30 days to reach an agreement. Failure to do so will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”

WBO Orders Oleksandr Usyk to Fight Joseph Parker - Arise News

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua given hope after new Oleksandr Usyk fight ruling

Re: Negotiations – WBO Mandatory Heavyweight Championship Contest Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker https://t.co/Syi1MBds0a — WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) March 13, 2025

Parker, who lost the WBO title to Anthony Joshua in 2018, has worked his way back into contention with six consecutive victories, including wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole.

The 33-year-old New Zealander has revamped his style since his knockout loss to Joe Joyce in 2023 and now stands as Usyk’s mandatory challenger. Usyk, however, could have bigger financial incentives elsewhere. The Ukrainian, fresh off consecutive victories over Tyson Fury, could stand to make significantly more by facing Dubois, whom he previously defeated in 2023.

A rematch would not only be a more marketable fight but could also allow Usyk to compete for the undisputed heavyweight crown. Fan interest is also a factor, and considering Parker’s style has been labeled as less entertaining compared to other top heavyweights, a Usyk-Parker fight would likely struggle to generate significant pay-per-view sales. If Usyk, 38, follows the money, Parker may be left without his long-awaited title shot while the heavyweight division continues to shift around its biggest names.

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua given hope after new Oleksandr Usyk fight ruling

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua could be handed a shot at Daniel Dubois’ world title after Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker were ordered to begin negotiations for a mandatory heavyweight clash.

The WBO has revealed that the two teams have 30 days to reach terms following Parker’s win over Martin Bakole last month. In a publicly released notice, the WBO said: “Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between the subject matters fighters to discharge the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the Heavyweight Division.

“By virtue of this order, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated expeditiously in compliance with our institutional policy of only one world champion per weight class. The parties have 30 days to reach terms. Failure to do so will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”

Anthony Joshua

READ: ‘Firing on all cylinders’ Anthony Joshua could take Daniel Dubois rematch but….

Usyk’s last fight came back in December when he defeated long-time rival Tyson Fury via unanimous decision in Riyadh. As for Parker – the WBO interim title-holder – the Kiwi star now seemingly looks set to challenge for the Ukrainian’s title next as he looks to become a world champion once again.

Usyk recently set out his retirement plan and revealed he wants two more fights before calling it a day. In an interview with Sky Sports, Usyk – an undisputed champion at both heavyweight and cruiserweight – said: “I will fight who will win, Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, no problem. I think two years, one and a half [left in boxing]. I feel great myself. I feel I have two fights to prepare [for], not more. Just two.”

However, those plans were potentially scuppered after Dubois pulled out of his clash with Parker due to illness. Despite the Brit pulling out, Usyk is still targeting a rematch with ‘Triple D.’ That said, Dubois may have to wait a little while longer but news will come as a boost to Joshua as it could set him up with a rematch with Dubois. ‘AJ’ hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by ‘Triple D’ back in September at Wembley Stadium. The two stars were due to face off right away earlier this year, but Joshua wasn’t deemed fit enough to compete.

Joshua has been tipped to fight Fury this year, despite the latter’s retirement announcement. However, ‘AJ’ was handed a real blow after boxing trainer Andy Lee, who is also Fury’s cousin, revealed the former world champion has no interest in returning. Asked if he is in touch with the ‘Gypsy King’, Lee told iFL TV: “[It’s] just the odd message here and there and he seems very happy. [He said], ‘Andy I’m not f****d.’ That’s what he said. ‘I couldn’t be f****d with it.’ He’s very happy. As bad as it sounds, it depends what the figure is for Tyson. It has to motivate him to come out of retirement. He seems very happy.”

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Oleksandr Usyk Admits Number One Heavyweight In Line For A Fight With Him Is ‘Very Dangerous’

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Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk may be the best heavyweight on the planet and one of the pound-for-pound greats of his generation, but he is still willing to admit the danger posed by the division’s top contenders.

Usyk has not been beaten in the professional ranks. After winning a Gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics, he turned over and soon began racking up the wins. By 2018 he was the undisputed cruiserweight champion, but didn’t stop there.

He moved up to heavyweight and cleaned out that division by twice beating Anthony Joshua to unify and defend the titles, then he beat Tyson Fury in May 2024 to become undisputed and also won the rematch back in December.

Oleksandr Usyk presents Agit Kabayel with interim belt after INCREDIBLE KO against Zhilei Zhang | Boxing News | Sky Sports

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Usyk will soon have mandatories coming his way should he decide to fight on, including the likes of WBC Interim Champion Agit Kabayel, who is coming off the back of a big KO victory over Zhilei Zhang on February 22.

After that fight, Usyk spoke to talkSPORT Boxing about Kabayel and acknowledged he posed a big threat.

“Listen, I yesterday I said Kabayel, he is very dangerous to the body. This morning at maybe 10, 11, I told Zhilei ‘hey please, be careful to the body.’”

The special southpaw has revealed that he is now motivated by becoming a two-time undisputed champion which could lead to a fight with IBF ruler Daniel Dubois, who he has already beaten.

Despite ultimately winning the fight via KO, he was put down with a body shot from Dubois, and that is an area that people have often claimed he is vulnerable which is why Kabayel could also pose a problem were the two to fight.

Should Usyk and Dubois face off a second time, Kabayel will be expected to continue his excellent run of form – stoppages over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhang – by facing another top ranked heavyweight, with both Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua in the running.

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“I’m Ready For September”: The Man Oleksandr Usyk Wants For His Final Fight Agrees To Face Him

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Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk is figuring out how best to bid out from the sport he has dominated for so long.

Usyk has been a professional for 13 years, ever since he ended his amateur career with a gold medal at the London Olympic games.

Six years after turning over, he completed the cruiserweight division by beating every man he faced, never going down and barely being hurt. That made him the undisputed champion and he soon moved up to heavyweight.

Alex Pereira targets stunning boxing crossover fight with Oleksandr Usyk - Mirror Online

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His time in boxing’s banner division has been just as successful. He has recorded wins over some of the best talents of his era, including twice beating former unified world champion Anthony Joshua on points. He also defended his belts against young talent Daniel Dubois in summer 2023, then went into a much anticipated undisputed fight with the unbeaten Tyson Fury. The southpaw came out after 12 rounds as the winner to complete a historic undisputed double, then beat Fury once more back in December.

As he enters his late thirties, the Ukrainian has now got only one or two fights left. The likely next opponent will be a rematch against current IBF champion Dubois. However, for his final fight he has suggested a crossover bout against UFC champion Alex Pereira.

“Maybe show fight with Alex Pereira, maybe, why not. Alex wanna [do it?]”

Pereira responded to the call out by putting forward a date of September in Saudi Arabia.

“When I saw it I jumped with joy. Who knows, in September, in Saudi Arabia.”

It would be an unlikely bout, but whoever he takes on, Usyk will likely be an overwhelming favourite.

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Oleksandr Usyk Admits That Even At His Very Best There Is One Heavyweight That Would Beat Him

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Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk wrote his name into boxing folklore after beating Tyson Fury for the second time last December.

The 38-year-old from Ukraine outpointed ‘The Gypsy King’ over another 12 competitive rounds at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to retain his unified WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles and secure his status as the greatest heavyweight of this generation.

Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the ‘four belt era’ in his initial encounter with Fury last May, although their first bout arguably closer than their rematch on December 21.

Is Oleksandr Usyk really too small for Tyson Fury? He's the same size as a prime Muhammad Ali | Sporting News United Kingdom

READ: “That’s Not Good”: 2nd Lowest in Boxing, Gervonta Davis Left Disappointed With Ridiculous Boxing Stat

Despite being without a doubt the absolute best heavyweight of this era, he has recently admitted that there is only one heavyweight in the history of the sport that he believes would have gotten the better of him at his very best.

In a round of ‘Prime vs Prime; Winner Stays On’ with Daily Mail Sport, Usyk didn’t hesitate to name the one heavyweight who would defeat him.

“Muhammad Ali.”

Muhammad Ali‘s legacy is undeniable, with many regarding the late-great heavyweight icon as the greatest fighter in boxing’s long and storied history.

‘The Greatest’ enjoyed incredible success throughout his professional career, where he defeated the likes of Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton to name a few.

The most successful period of Ali’s career came in the mid-to-late 1970s, where he kept a hold of the undisputed heavyweight championship which he won when he beat Foreman in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ back in 1974.

‘The Greatest’ went on to make 10 defences of the titles he won from ‘Big’ George that night, before he was dethroned by Leon Spinks when they fought in February 1978.

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Usyk predicts Anthony Joshua victory against Tyson Fury

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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk has stuck his neck on the line with a prediction for who would win in a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. It is the fight that many British fans want to see and with the prospect of a trilogy clash between Fury and the Ukrainian now evaporated, it looks more likely.

Usyk beat the Gypsy King 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards on Saturday night to claim his second win of the year over him and retain his WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight titles.

And he speaks from a place of authority having also dispatched Joshua twice, beating the Brit on points in 2021 and 2022. A domestic dust-up has been mooted for the best part of a decade, ever since Fury first became champion when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. But the stars have not aligned thus far with both Fury and AJ reaching the twilight of their careers.

Usyk was asked two questions by Boxing King Media: “Who was a harder overall opponent, and who would be the favourite between the two if they fought?” The Cat said that Fury had been the more difficult opponent across 24 rounds, but believes AJ would win on “maybe points”.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua
We could find out in 2025, with Wembley Stadium beckoning for what remains arguably the biggest commercial fight in world boxing. Both men would be entering the bout off the back of defeats after Joshua was dominated by Daniel Dubois in September.  In his post-fight press conference, Fury was asked what the future holds.

“You might see me fight again, you might not,” he cryptically answered.

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Tyson Fury dismisses potential Anthony Joshua fight after Oleksandr Usyk rematch: ‘Joshua’s in tatters’

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua

Forget Anthony Joshua. Tyson Fury is looking to beat Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia this weekend, then rematch him in 2025.

Sorry, boxing fans: if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk this weekend in Riyadh, we won’t be seeing him fight Anthony Joshua.

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has been a white whale for combat sports fans, and its absence is felt even as we get all of these wild heavyweight fights in Saudi Arabia. One of those fights is Usyk vs. Fury 2, the sequel to a fight that saw Usyk become unified heavyweight champion via a split decision win (watch the highlights here).

Tyson Fury is coming into Saturday’s superfight more confident than ever, saying he was fighting at 40% ability in the first bout. Now promising 110%, he intends to clobber Usyk and force a trilogy.

“When I win on Saturday, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Saudi network Al Arabiya. “Fighting Usyk on Saturday, and the one after, would be fantastic for me. It’s not revenge, just me smashing his face in. Not in a million years will I walk away after this. All great dance partners have trilogies. Facts.”

As for a fight with Anthony Joshua?

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

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Oleksandr Usyk Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Anthony Joshua Would Beat Deontay Wilder

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Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua 

Oleksandr Usyk has always seemed to retain a soft spot Anthony Joshua after twice beating him in 2021 and 2022.

The first time the pair met was only Usyk’s third fight up at heavyweight. He had already won everything there was to win down at cruiserweight and was on a mission to repeat the feat in the most celebrated division of them all.

After beating Joshua the first time on points, he did so again in an immediate rematch and then made a defence against Daniel Dubois before facing Tyson Fury back in May.

That undisputed heavyweight championship contest ended with another points victory for the Ukrainian southpaw who also claimed Olympic Gold in the amateurs.

Right now there are just a few days to go until he returns to the ring in Saudi Arabia to rematch Fury who is keen to overturn the result of the first contest and get revenge for the only loss on his professional ledger.

Ahead of that, Usyk took part in a round of winner stays on with DailyMail Sport and was asked who would win if Joshua were to face Wilder and he went with the Brit.

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson fury

“Anthony Joshua.”

Hard-hitting Wilder was a WBC champion for many years, and Joshua held the rest of the world titles at the same time. Although the pair were long linked for a fight, it never happened, and then Wilder was dethroned by Fury.

He has since lost back-to-back against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Though many felt he may retire, the American has confirmed he will fight on.

Since the Usyk loss, ‘AJ’ managed a string of four victories before being stopped by Daniel Dubois in his attempt to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.

With both Joshua and Wilder looking for a way back to the top whilst also being in the biggest fights possible, the explosive match-up may be more likely than ever.

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Joshua picks Usyk to beat Fury in rematch…

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Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

British-Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua has backed Oleksandr Usyk to defeat Tyson Fury once again when the pair meet for a rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 21.

Joshua, who lost to Usyk twice in 2021 and 2022, believes Fury lacks the tools to overcome the Ukrainian’s skill and discipline in their highly anticipated clash.

“I said Usyk will win. I said that from 2023. I do think Fury’s a good fighter, but there’s levels,” Joshua told IFL TV.

“A cruiserweight nearly knocked Fury out. You’ve got to learn from these situations. I don’t think he underestimated him, but what he was saying about middleweights just goes to show you should never downplay a fighter.”

Fury suffered his first career defeat against Usyk in May after a gruelling contest that saw him barely survive a punishing ninth round. The Briton activated his rematch clause immediately and has vowed to secure victory without relying on the judges’ scorecards.

However, Joshua has expressed doubt over Fury’s chances, urging him to show more respect for Usyk’s capabilities.

ANTHONY JOSHUA

“Me personally what I think, nah. No way,” Joshua added.

“I think Fury’s good, he had some good moments, but I just don’t think he can do it. It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just don’t think he’s better than Usyk. Fury maybe should give him the respect he deserves next time, and he might put on a better performance.”

The rematch is expected to draw global attention, with Usyk aiming to cement his dominance and Fury seeking redemption.

For Joshua, the outcome could shape his own future. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, has reiterated plans to secure the long-awaited Fury fight regardless of the result, though a second Fury loss may ease negotiations.

Joshua, who recently lost to Daniel Dubois in a bid to reclaim the heavyweight crown, remains focused on his own career but will undoubtedly have a vested interest in the Riyadh showdown.

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