Alexander may try to regain the title of absolute world champion.
Head of the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Entertainment Turki Al ash-Sheikhcommented on the possibility of a unification fight between WBC, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight title holder Alexander Usyk and IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.
After the Ukrainian's victory over Tyson Fury in the rematch, Dubois climbed into the ring and challenged Usyk to a fight.
See also: Usyk vs. Fury: best moments of the rematch (video)
Alexander accepted the challenge and asked Al ash-Sheikh, who organized both Usyk fights against the “Gypsy King”, to arrange a fight with Dubois for him.
In response, Turki agreed to organize the Usyk vs. Dubois fight, but on one condition – the Briton must first defend his IBF belt in a fight with New Zealander Joseph Parker, which is scheduled for February 22, 2025 in Riyadh.
In addition, Al-Ash-Sheikh said that he also wants to organize a fight between Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“Usyk beat Fury. According to my calculations, he won four more rounds. Tyson had a fantastic fight, but this is boxing, where there is a winner and a loser.
If Dubois wins in February, I want to see Daniel fight Usyk again. And I want to see Tyson fight, maybe Joshua. We'll decide,” Turki said in an interview with The Stomping Ground YouTube channel.
See also: Usyk reacts to Fury and his promoter's words about unfair judging in the rematch
It should be noted that in a potential fight between Usyk and Dubois, the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion will again be at stake.
Thanks to his victory over Fury in their first fight, which took place on the night of May 19, 2024, Usyk became the first absolute world champion in the heavyweight division in the 21st century, holding all four major boxing belts in his hands – WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC.
However, Alexander then had to give up the IBF title, and therefore lose the “absolute” title. Now the IBF belt is in the hands of Dubois, who has already managed to defend it by knockoutanother Briton Anthony Joshua.
Recall that on the night of August 27, Usyk knocked out Dubois in the ninth round and defended his WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles.
However, a scandalous episode occurred in the fifth round of the fight – the Briton hit the Ukrainian below the belt, after which he fell to the canvas of the ring. The referee did not count the knockdown, but gave Alexander a few minutes to recover.
After the fight, Dubois said that he was robbed of the victory. According to the British boxer, his blow hit Usyk not below the belt, but right in the stomach. Daniel expressed confidence that he knocked out the Ukrainian and should have taken possession of the championship belts. In connection with this, Dubois’ team demanded that the result of the fight with Usyk be annulled.
Later, the WBA made an official statement, stating that Dubois’s hit below the belt was a violation of the rules and, after a detailed study of the appeal, ruled that the result of the championship fight remains in force.
