DENVER (August 14, 2023) – On August 26th, you will want to tune in and watch WBO, IBF, and WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk as he defends his heavyweight titles against London’s Daniel Dubois. Why tune in? Because it’s Usyk, and when you talk about heavyweights in boxing, Usyk is a name that always pops up.
Dubois is a legitimate opponent for Usyk and the current WBA world heavyweight champion. Wait… we all thought Usyk was the WBA champion? Nope, Usyk is the WBA ‘Super’ heavyweight champion, TeeHee. Back to combat, Dubois is a young 25 years of age and sports a professional ring record of 19 victories to only one defeat. Eighteen of Dubois’ wins have come by knockouts, not to mention Usyk is 36 years old. Another interesting comparison is height; Dubois stands at 6’5” (196cm), while Usyk reaches the sky at 6’3” (191cm), One would think this is an advantage for Dubois, but it’s not. In boxing, the reach counts as an advantage, and both boxers have a reach of 78” (198cm).
Usyk made his mark amongst heavyweights when he dethroned Anthony Joshua on September 25, 2021. Usyk again defeated Joshua in a rematch on August 20, 2022, leaving no questions that he is a bona fide champion.
The youngster Dubois will be facing the biggest test of his boxing career when he challenges Usyk, and I’d like to point out that Dubois has never fought an opponent with a losing record. I like and respect that in a professional boxer, giving Dubois an excellent chance to win this contest. I will be watching. You can count on that.
K2 Promotions are promoting the event in association with Queensberry Promotions. The contest comes from Tarczyński Arena Wroclaw, Poland, and can be Watched on ESPN+ Noon Mountain Time.
Also on my watch list is heavyweight Jared Anderson, fighting on August 26th. ‘Big Baby’ is his ring moniker, which fits him well. Anderson is 23 years old, a baby in professional boxing, and at 6’4”, he is pretty big.
As I mentioned, I like and respect a boxer that takes on opponents with winning records rather than subpar opponents to build an undefeated ring record. Look at Anderson’s record, and you will see his opponents have all been undefeated. Anderson will face Ukrainian Andrii Rudenko, who has 41 bouts with a ring record of 35 wins to 6 losses. This is on my watch list, not so much because I feel Rudenko has a chance to win. I don’t give Rudenko much chance to beat Anderson but rather to see any improvements to Anderson’s arsenal of skill and talent.
From what I’ve thus far from Anderson, I look forward to him moving up from prospect to contender and becoming a world champion.
The event is being promoted by Top Rank and broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
See you at the fights! Say hello and buy me a cup of coffee.
