OLEKSANDR Usyk, who beat Nigerian-Briton Anthony Joshua twice, will now face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois after talks for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury broke down.
World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation champion Usyk, who also holds The Ring Magazine belt and the less-prestigious International Boxing Organisation title, was due to face World Boxing Council champion Fury on April 29 at Wembley Stadium.
However, the bout was called off today even after Usyk agreed to a 70/30 split in his opponent’s favour and no rematch clause.
Instead, Usyk will have to fight the WBA ‘regular’ champion Dubois after the Briton defeated Trevor Bryan last year for the belt and defended it against Kevin Lerena, according to Daily Mirror.
Dubois, who was previously linked with a fight against former world champion Joshua, has a 19-1 record and has knocked out all but two of his opponents thus far.
He sustained an injury during his fight with Lerena, during which he was knocked down three times in the first round before recovering to win via knockout in the third.
Fury mocked Usyk for the possibility of facing Dubois during the public spat between the champions on social media, saying that the Ukrainian will only make “a few million” for the fight.
“Where I’m standing, Usyk, you and your team are worth 30 per cent,” the Briton said in an angry Instagram video, which saw the Ukrainian call his bluff and sign on for the bout.
“You either take it, or you leave it, and if you don’t want it, go fight Daniel Dubois at The Copperbox and get a few million dollars. You want to make some real money, come and fight ‘The Gypsy King’. But I will say, for every day from today that you linger and mess around, I’m going to deduct one per cent from the 30 per cent.”
If Dubois recovers from his injuries in time, he will be the next challenger for Usyk’s belts with the fight to be held in the United Kingdom.
