Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois could take place in Poland as Ukrainian’s promoter holds talks

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter considers staging Daniel Dubois clash in POLAND after holding talks with the country’s top promotion over potential summer date… as the Brit closes in on his first world heavyweight title shot

  • Usyk was officially ordered to defend his unified titles against Dubois this month
  • Alex Krassyuk, the Ukrainian’s promoter, has held talks with Polish boxing chiefs
  • Both teams have around a week to thrash out terms for their heavyweight bout 

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk has held talks over the possibility of staging their world-title defence against Daniel Dubois in Poland this summer.

Dubois is gearing up for a date of destiny with Usyk, who currently holds three of the four recognised heavyweight championships, after officially being named as his mandatory challenger by the WBA earlier this month.

The British star has capitalised from Usyk failing to negotiate a mega-fight with WBC king Tyson Fury, which initially took precedence over his mandatory duties given it would have crowned an undisputed champion, and is now poised for his first shot at world honours as a result.

On April 3 the WBA called for negotiations to begin, with both parties given 30 days to thrash out terms before purse bids come into play.

And while official confirmation is still yet to come, Usyk’s team are edging closer towards a location for the bout after holding meetings with the head of Knockout Promotions, Poland’s leading fight promoters, over holding it in the Central European country.

Dubois (pictured) is set for a first world-title shot

Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Daniel Dubois (right) could go head to head in Poland this summer

 

Usyk's promoter Alex Krassyuk (right) has held talks over staging the contest in Poland

Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk (right) has held talks over staging the contest in Poland

Krassyuk posted a photo on Instagram that shows him alongside the head of Knockout Promotions and wrote: ‘Seeing my brother #Andrzej Wasilewski to explore the opportunities for @usykaa vs @dynamite_daniel_dubois in Poland this summer’.

As well as his maiden world-title shot, Dubois is closing in on the biggest test of his six-year career so far.

The 25-year-old has claimed 19 victories and 18 knockouts, with his only defeat coming against fellow Brit Joe Joyce in November 2020.

Despite leading Joyce on the scorecards at the time, Dubois took a knee and retired in the 10th round after suffering a fractured eye socket. He has recorded four straight wins since.

His latest victory proved harder work than expected when heavy underdog Kevin Lerena knocked him down three times in the first round at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was later revealed that Dubois had suffered a knee injury inside that opener, which the WBA were forced to assess before officially ordering his world-title shot.

Dubois is gearing up for a first world heavyweight title shot and the toughest test of his career

Dubois is gearing up for a first world heavyweight title shot and the toughest test of his career

He eventually secured a stoppage win in the third round, but a much-improved display is required up against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet in Usyk this summer.

The latter has already cemented a legacy as one of the greatest in history, having become an undisputed champion down at cruiserweight before venturing up to heavyweight and dethroning three-belt king Anthony Joshua.

Usyk then retained his three titles in a rematch with Joshua last August, outpointing the Brit for a second time in Saudi Arabia.