“Usyk, I want my revenge. I want my revenge, Usyk,” said Daniel Dubois while Oleksandr Usyk was still responding to Ade Oladipo. Scuttling through a thriller, the reigning unified champion snatched yet another win just when it seemed that Tyson Fury would finally avenge his historical loss on May 18. The day before yesterday, the two heavyweights squared up once again at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.

Despite appearing focused and better prepared, Fury found himself answerless against Usyk’s precision strikes. The scorecards invariably raised a few eyebrows. Nevertheless, there was no doubt: Usyk had done enough to secure another historic win. Just when he shared his sons’ latest achievements, Daniel Dubois barged in and called him out for a rematch. Usyk and Dubois’ first match ended on a controversial note. Ever since, there have been talks to set the record straight once and for all. The Ukrainian champion will turn 38 in a few weeks time. He doesn’t have much time left before pulling the curtains on his exemplary career. Thus, the obvious question arises: Is a fight against Daniel Dubois the strategic next step?

Why Daniel Dubois deserves to fight Oleksandr Usyk next

From the tenth-round knockout loss to Joe Joyce four years ago, Daniel Dubois has come a long way. He suffered a second career setback when Usyk knocked him out three years later. But through sheer grit and determination, the London-born ‘Triple D’ has since positioned himself as the strongest claimant to the heavyweight crown festooned atop Usyk’s head.

Two months after the Usyk loss, on the Anthony Joshua–Otto Wallin card at Kingdom Arena, Dubois delivered a sound drubbing to heavy-handed Jarrell Miller. Six months later he returned to the venue and stopped the Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round. The win fetched him the interim IBF title that was soon converted to a full championship once Usyk vacated it.

But the win also meant that his path will cross with another British heavyweight who is on a resurgent drive. Like Dubois, Anthony Joshua suffered defeats at the hands of Usyk. But in a span of 18 months, through four consecutive wins, including the second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou, Joshua placed his name among the probables who could take over the mantle from either Usyk or Fury.

On September 21, on the Riyadh Season Card at Wembley, Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua finally met. In front of over ninety thousand fans and millions who watched the match from their homes, 27-year-old Dubois knocked out Joshua in the most convincing manner.

Now, as he looks forward to elevating his career to the next level, Dubois has to weigh in on the hurdles lying in front of him: Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The Saturday night rematch between the two may have solved half of the problem. Given he still feels strongly about last August’s controversial loss, a match with Usyk makes all the more sense for Dubois and his fans.

What happened in Dubois vs. Usyk 1?

To evaluate Daniel Dubois’ claims for a rematch, one has to review the last match against Oleksandr Usyk. In the fifth round of their title clash at Wroclaw, Poland, Usyk received a punch from Dubois that saw him down to the canvas. The referee held that it was a low blow. Later he awarded nearly five minutes for Usyk to recover.

It took nearly three minutes for Usyk to resume the fight. Eventually, in the ninth round, he knocked out Dubois. Soon after, questions arose about the referee’s decision regarding the fifth-round shot. Many felt it was a legal punch, and had it been ruled correctly, it might have altered the fight’s outcome. Arguments and counterarguments flowed from both sides. Dubois’s promoter, Frank Warren, filed an appeal to overturn the outcome of the match, but it was ultimately rejected.

Did Oleksandr Usyk agree to fight Daniel Dubois next?

Daniel Dubois congratulated Oleksandr Usyk for his victory. However, he emphasized that he wants to avenge his second career loss. “I want my revenge for the robbery last time. Let’s get it. Let’s go. Let’s go,” said ‘Triple D’.

The marks of a grueling test were visible on Usyk’s face. He was tired and clearly taken aback by the sudden intrusion. But he managed to retain his composure and replied, “No problem, no problem.”

Daniel Dubois called out his promoter Frank Warren to take necessary steps and make the fight happen. On his part, Usyk, borrowing a mike from Ade Oladipo, called out HE Turki Alalshikh, “Mr. Excellency, Your Excellency, make me fight with Daniel Dubois. Thank you so much.”

The Riyadh Season head hinted at what might be in store in the coming months. Speaking with ‘The Stomping Ground’, he said, “Next, if Dubois wins in February, I want to see Usyk and Dubois again,” adding a potential and much sought-after clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could also be on the line.

Come February 22, Daniel Dubois will defend his IBF title from Joseph Parker. A win over the New Zealand-born heavyweight might secure them the fight that he badly wants. Who knows, he might as well become the division’s next heavyweight champion as well.

What are your thoughts on the Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois matchup? Regardless of the outcome of the Dubois-Parker fight, should the Usyk fight be the next one?