Oleksandr Usyk makes game plan clear ahead of Daniel Dubois rematch
Oleksandr Usyk is confident Daniel Dubois will fold under pressure this weekend.
Usyk will attempt to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion for a second time when he meets Dubois at Wembley on Saturday night. Usyk dropped and stopped Dubois two years ago when they met in Poland, but only after Usyk himself hit the canvas. Dubois' shot, however, was ruled a low blow and the Ukrainian went on to complete a ninth-round finish.
Since them, Usyk has beaten Tyson Fury twice while Dubois has seen off Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua to become world champion. But the Brit has long faced accusations of being a 'quitter' after taking a knee against Joe Joyce and failing to beat the count against Usyk.
And Usyk's team are confident Dubois will struggle again this weekend. "It is the same guy. What can he change in a couple of years? You cannot train your mind and that is what I think his weaknesses are," said the Ukrainian's manager Egis Klimas.
Dubois has exuded confidence this week, however, and has an 11-year age advantage over his fellow champion. And his promoter Frank Warren hit back at Team Usyk's claim. "We will see on Saturday," he said.
"He certainly trained his mind against (Jarrell) Miller, he certainly trained his mind against (Filip) Hrgovic and he certainly trained his mind against 'AJ'... in a big way. And he has got better and better and he has shown his power. His power, I mean he knows he can hurt Mr Usyk. He knows that. He has felt the power and he is a much better fighter from two and a half years ago."
The final press conference passed without incident with both men ready to let their fists do the talking. But asked about his advancing years, Usyk said: "I respect this guy, this young guy. 'm not old guy, 38 is not old. We will see Saturday."
Dubois, meanwhile, had little to say as he promised to become Britain's first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. "He's making the mistake of believing I'm still the same boy he beat in our first fight two and a half years ago. Wrong. I'm in my prime now," he said.
"Right now, I just want to get it on. I´m going to write my own script. I´m going to win these belts. I'm going to be the man."
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
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