Daniel Dubois declares 'I'm not the same boy from our first fight' as Oleksandr Usyk sends final message ahead of duo's undisputed world heavyweight championship bout
No, not by way of predicting in which round he will knock out the young Londoner who is hoping to put an end to the Ukrainian war hero's unbeaten record.
Usyk was affirming his expectation of crowning his legend by becoming an undisputed world champion for a third time.
First at cruiserweight. Secondly at heavyweight in the process of beating both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice. Next by taking from Dubois the only one of the four alphabets not currently in his possession.
'No way,' said Dubois. '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.'
At Wednesday's public workout, Dubois bounced about the canvas like that cat on a hot tin roof and had the crowd a-jumping to his yells of confidence that he will end Usyk's unbeaten reign as the heavyweight of the century.
On one thing they agreed at a rather formal affair by Fury standards was both saying almost in chorus: 'I'm ready to rumble.'
The Ukrainian ring master was buzzing too but used the burst of exercise to re-rehearse in shadow boxing the upward punching he used to great effect in defeating the three British giants.
Usyk v Dubois for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world will be televised live on DAZN pay per view this Saturday night.
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