Oleksandr Usyk makes mincemeat out of Daniel Dubois in rematch

Some headlines screamed “Undisputed” after Oleksandr Usyk dismantled Daniel Dubois a few days ago in London.

You think?

Forget the trinkets. Usyk has been the man since he defeated Tyson Fury in 2024 and repeated his victory seven months later.

He had first boxed Dubois 23 months ago, winning by stoppage in round nine. This was before beating Fury, and after conquering Anthony Joshua twice. Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) has now doubled up on three top heavyweights.

He’s the unquestioned world heavyweight champion.

“He’s something special, he’s a special, special fighter,” said Dubois promoter Frank Warren. “He’s a good finisher, he’s a very, very good finisher, he’s a tough guy, he’s hard as nails.”He’s all those things.

Going into last weekend’s fight against Dubois, a few people I respect told me that Dubois had a real chance. I disagreed. My take was he had a “puncher’s chance,” not a REAL chance.

Why?

I could see some improvement in Dubois, Usyk, from Ukraine, is a road warrior. He’s incredibly talented, but it’s his boxer brain that separates him.

And something else. “I don’t have motivation, I have discipline,” said Usyk after the fight. “Motivation is temporary. I never wake up and have motivation, I only have discipline…. Motivation is good, but discipline is better.” He’s right. Though motivation might work better for some, discipline is the key for Usyk.

In that way, and only that way, he’s like another undefeated heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano.

Marciano outworked everyone – he trained harder, worked harder, and got everything out of his ability.

Discipline.

He lived the boxing life.

Usyk does as well, leaving his family for months on end to train and get ready.

“I prepare three and a half months [for Dubois], said Usyk. “I’ve not seen my wife and my family. Every day I live with my team – 14 guys in one house. Now I want to go back home and choose what’s next. “I will continue boxing and training, but I cannot say who is my next opponent.”

Dubois fired right hands with bad intentions Saturday night. The guy has power. Usyk rolled with them and jabbed. His jab is the key. He’s a master of distance. Usyk landed a few hard shots in the next stanza. Dubois was trudging forward, but whatever chaos he was attempting was being controlled by Usyk’s style. Dubois upped the ante in round three, being the bull, but the matador avoided his charges and stung him. Usyk moved with ease and measured Dubois.

The older man (38) was fighting 10 years younger. Usyk’s jab continued to sting. Dubois remained impassive, but one had to wonder what was going through his mind.

Usyk stood and punched with Dubois in round five. This is what Dubois wanted. He tried to fight back, but was strafed with a combination that sent him down. Dubois got up, firing bombs, but nothing landed. Usyk, like a hungry man seeing his dinner, moved in range, then let fly with a sweeping left hand. The blow landed perfectly on the exposed jaw of Dubois.

Down he went for the second time. His attempt to beat the count was late.  He walked to his corner as Usyk celebrated like a man resigned, as if saying, “I can’t beat this guy.”

Right now-nobody can.

He is the best of today’s heavyweights.