1 year, 8 months, or precisely 610 days. That’s how many days Daniel Dubois had been waiting for redemption against Oleksandr Usyk for that controversial loss in August 2023. The duo faced each other in an electrifying clash in Wroclaw, Poland, where the Ukrainian knocked out Dynamite in the ninth round. However, a disputed fifth-round incident where Dubois’s punch dropped Usyk for several minutes overshadowed the win for the unified heavyweight champion.

The referee, Luis Pabon, ruled the powerful right hook to the body a low blow, even though replays showed it was just on the belt line, giving the unified heavyweight champion almost four minutes to recover before the fight resumed. This controversial call left Dubois and his team feeling robbed, and the bitterness still lingers to this day. Though Dubois fell short of claiming the unified heavyweight titles, he’s determined to seize victory on home soil on July 19 and close this chapter definitively as he sent a bold warning to Usyk ahead of their rematch.

Ask and ye shall receive

Their face-off followed a day after the official announcement of the fight on the 27th. Hours after the heated standoff between the duo at Wembley Stadium, the Greenwich native shared pictures of the event on his Instagram story. The highlight, however, was Dubois’ single-word caption: “Revenge.” There is nothing else to say, as these two would rather let their fists do the talking. Even during the standoff, Dynamite abruptly pushed Oleksandr Usyk. Thankfully, the security intervened swiftly to stop the matter from escalating.

Daniel Dubois doubled down on his mission in an interview with The Guardian. He declared, “This is the fight I wanted and demanded, and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk,” making his intentions clear. Not only that, but the Britton once again showed frustration over the first bout while sending a chilling warning to Usyk. “I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now, and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19,” he asserted.

Since the first fight, Dubois and his promoter, Frank Warren, have consistently challenged the low blow call, claiming they were cheated. Ahead of the undisputed rematch, Dubois’s coach, Don Charles, also fired shots at Usyk yesterday, intensifying the rivalry.

Oleksandr Usyk must have troubled conscience

During a conversation, Radio Rahim asked Charles if accusing Usyk of cheating could make the rematch riskier. Unfazed, Charles stood firm. “He knows that he cheated on that night,” he stated. He doubled down on his claims, claiming that the referee was majorly inconsistent with his calls.

Charles claimed Usyk repeatedly signaled low blows in the opening rounds, even on legal shots, priming Luis Pabon to later misjudge a legitimate body shot as a foul. “No, we’re telling the truth,” Charles insisted, claiming that even Usyk’s conscience would have troubled him.

Regardless of past controversies, the stakes are high for Daniel Dubois. Whether these constant call-outs will help or hinder him is unclear. However, one thing is certain: it might be the last chance at redemption. A loss in the rematch might close the door on future opportunities for years, not to mention the loss of his IBF title. All eyes are on July 19 to see if Dubois’ growth and experience over the past two years shine through.

What do you think? Will Daniel Dubois be able to avenge his past loss? Let us know your thoughts down below.