Via Brian Webber: The WBA ordered their ‘Super’ heavyweight champion Oleksander Usyk to take on ‘regular’ champion Daniel Dubois to reduce the number of titles.
The move is likely to look like the undisputed heavyweight clash between IBF, WBA & WBO champion Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) and WBC champion Tyson Fury.
However, with Dubois and Fury sharing promoters at Queensbury Promotion, it would have been simple when they arranged for Daniel to step aside so Tyson could face Usyk for the undisputed.
Dubois will then face the winner of a fight between Fury and Usyk, as long as the IBF doesn’t get in the way of that fight.
The International Boxing Federation ordered Usyk to defend against Filip Hrgović mandating their IBF next. Hrgovic’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has repeatedly said that Usyk must protect him next, but it’s possible the IBF will allow the Fury vs Usyk fight to continue.
When that fight is over, the IBF will likely insist on asking Hrgovic to take his shot, which means Dubois will have to wait for his turn.
The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has ordered a world heavyweight title fight between Super Champion Oleksandr Usyk and Champion Daniel Dubois #UsykDubois
– WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) December 13, 2022
Dubois was nearly knocked out by little-known former cruiser runner Kevin Lerena on December 3 during their co-feature match at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in London.
The 25-year-old Dubois was knocked out three times by South African Lerena in the first round.
Some boxing fans believe the round ended 10 seconds early, which may have saved Dubois from being knocked down as he seemed to fall to every punch Lerena knocked after the first knock.
Queensbury is interested in Fury taking on Usyk and Joe Joyce in 2023. If Fury takes on Usyk, Dubois and Joyce in 2023, he will face a lot next year.
Fury recently talked about wanting to fight ten times by 2023, and he was joking. But as long as he’s eager to keep busy next year, fighting Usyk, Dubois and Joyce in quick succession would be a great way for the 6’9-weight boxer to make up for lost time.
Fury has missed many fights due to problems outside of the ring following his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. At 34, Fury doesn’t have much time left before he’s aged and isn’t the fighter he is today.
