The date is set, August 26: The much-anticipated Unified Heavyweight Title showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will be aired LIVE on ESPN+ streaming straight from Wroclaw, Poland, beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
Oleksandr Usyk is gearing up to protect his WBA/WBO/IBF world titles against WBA mandatory contender Daniel Dubois. The showdown is slated for Saturday, August 26, under the bright lights of Tarczyński Arena Wrocław in Wrocław, Poland and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
USYK DUBOIS START TIMES Main Card on ESPN+
Eastern Time (ET): 2 p.m.
Pacific Time (PT): 11 a.m.
British Summer Time (BST): 7 p.m.
Australian Eastern Standard Time
(AEST): 4 a.m. (next day)
Main Event Estimated Start Time:
Around 5:15 p.m. ET
Depending on how long the undercard fights last
For Usyk, this isn’t just another fight. The experienced 36-year-old southpaw views this matchup as a stepping stone towards his goal of becoming an undisputed champion in two weight classes. The fact that this event is set to happen during the Ukrainian Independence Day weekend only amplifies its magnitude.
Usyk’s meteoric rise from cruiserweight to heavyweight is a testament to his exceptional talent and grit. This two-time Olympian and 2012 gold medalist boasts an unblemished professional record of 20 wins, 13 of which were knockouts. Ever since turning pro in 2013, Usyk has made his mark in the boxing world, snagging the WBO cruiserweight world title as early as 2016.
Usyk didn’t stop there. In 2018, he cemented his dominance by becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion, first clinching the WBC title against Mairis Breidis, and subsequently securing the WBA and IBF belts against Murat Gassiev. He defended his titles triumphantly with a decisive TKO victory over Tony Bellew before stepping into the heavyweight scene. His victories over heavy hitters like Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua propelled him to the status of unified heavyweight champion.
Facing Usyk in the ring is London’s own, Daniel Dubois. Despite his tender age of 25, Dubois is a heavyweight boxing force to be reckoned with. He stormed into his professional career in April 2017 with a resounding win over Marcus Kelly, remaining unbeaten for his first three years.
Dubois suffered his first career defeat against Joe Joyce in November 2020. However, he bounced back from this setback with four consecutive wins. His latest triumph over the previously undefeated American contender, Trevor Bryan, was nothing short of spectacular. Dubois enters this bout riding high on the wave of a third-round TKO victory against Kevin Lerena last December.
In a recent interview with IFL TV, Don Charles, Dubois’s current trainer, opened up about his expectations and plans for the upcoming heavyweight title fight. “We’ve been working with Daniel Dubois for ten weeks now, and we still have another seven weeks of hard work ahead,” Charles explained.
When asked about his unexpected partnership with Dubois, Charles said, “It certainly came as a surprise because I wasn’t expecting it. A fighter of Daniel’s caliber, it just came out of the blue and I received it with open arms. Why not?” Charles has worked with several heavyweights before and has always been impressed by Dubois’ physicality and athleticism.
“Daniel is a student of the sport, he knows the boxing history, listens, learns, and wants to learn. That’s a massive asset for any fighter,” Charles quoted.
While Dubois’s brute force and power are well recognized in boxing circles, Charles argues that the fighter has more up his sleeve. “He has an incredible understanding of what he’s doing. His fundamentals are all there – his footwork, everything. Normally, I would have to do a total rebuild, but with him, the foundation is already there.”
“All I’ve had to do is recognize that the foundations are there. I’m merely putting bricks that fit that foundation. So the progression has been quite rapid.”
Charles was tight-lipped about their specific strategy for the upcoming fight. “There’s a procedure to ‘putting it on him’ (Usyk),” he hinted, emphasizing the technicality of their approach. “If the game plan comes off on the night and he executes everything he listens to in the corner, I believe without a shadow of a doubt that Daniel Dubois can knock out Alexander Usyk. That’s the aim, and that’s what’s going to happen.”
There has been some concern among fans regarding Dubois’s switch to a new trainer just before such a crucial fight. Addressing those concerns, Charles said, “Have faith. The knowledge and experience that I bring to the table, fused with what Daniel already brings, is a winning combination.” Despite his knowledge and experience, Charles acknowledges that his opponent is not to be underestimated. “Alexander Usyk is a masterful, majestic boxer. We recognize what he does. He’s one of the best. But we’re very confident.”
As the clock ticks closer to the fight, Charles assures fans, “We are going to be victorious on the 26th. It’s written.”
USYK VS DUBOIS UK TV INFO, PPV PRICE & START TIMES
Title on the Line: Usyk, the undefeated unified heavyweight champion, will put his WBC, IBF, and WBA titles on the line against the British contender Dubois. This clash falls on Ukrainian Independence Day weekend, adding more drama to the bout.
The Fighters: Usyk (20-0) has a dazzling career that includes an Olympic gold medal and undisputed cruiserweight champion status. Dubois (19-1) packs a punch with 18 knockout wins. He’s hungry for a full world title after holding the WBA (Regular) belt.
Undercard Action: The undercard will go live from 6 pm UK time, available through TNT Sports Box Office.
USYK VS DUBOIS FIGHT CARD
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois, 12 rounds, heavyweight – Usyk’s WBA, WBO, IBF heavyweight titles
Denys Berinchyk vs. Anthony Yigit, 12 rounds, lightweight
Dmytro Mytrofanov vs. Hamzah Sheeraz, 12 rounds, middleweight
Daniel Lapin vs. Aro Schwartz, 10 rounds, light heavyweight
Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs. Anauel Ngamissengue, 8 rounds, middleweight
Rafal Wolczecki vs. Roberto Arriaza, 8 rounds, middleweight
Vasile Cebotari vs. Joel Julio, 8 rounds, welterweight
Nursultan Amanzholov vs. Lazizbek Mullojonov, 6 rounds, heavyweight
Oleksandr Solomennikov vs. Piotr Gudel, 6 rounds, featherweight
Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Janos Penzes, 4 rounds, super lightweight
Bryce Mills vs. Damian Tymosz, 4 rounds, super lightweight
