Usyk previously reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, having cemented his legacy at the very peak of the division. However, the skilled southpaw subsequently vacated all of his coveted championship belts and is not expected to step back between the professional ropes until next year as he weighs his next career moves.
If the pound-for-pound elite is indeed planning a high-profile "last dance" style bout for the twilight or next chapter of his storied career, promoter Frank Warren is well-positioned to provide a top-level, elite opponent. Warren boasts an impressive stable of heavyweight talent that includes WBC champion Agit Kabayel and WBO heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois. Furthermore, Warren also represents Tyson Fury, who stands in line to potentially capture the WBA ‘super’ belt if he can successfully overcome Anthony Joshua in their blockbuster showdown scheduled for December.
While Usyk has already secured victories over both Fury and Dubois in previous encounters during his remarkable campaign through the heavyweight division, potential trilogy bouts against either towering puncher could still easily materialize into monumental, pay-per-view global events. Alternatively, taking on the formidable Agit Kabayel for the WBC crown at a major stadium venue in Germany could prove to be an equally appealing and lucrative avenue for the former undisputed king.
Frank Warren recently addressed these enticing possibilities during an interview with Sky Sports, expressing a clear willingness to orchestrate fights of the highest magnitude. "I’ll take that fight for Kabayel, I wouldn’t mind that fight," Warren told Sky Sports, acknowledging the intrigue surrounding a potential clash between Usyk and the hard-hitting German champion.
Emphasizing his readiness to put together the best possible matchups for boxing fans worldwide, Warren continued, "Any of them. There are some great fights to be made and we’ll make them."
Discussing Usyk’s autonomy and the prospect of collaborating once again, Warren added, "He can do what he likes, but if he wants to fight one of these guys, then come and see us. It’s not hard for us to do. We’ve worked together on quite a few occasions now, we got on very well and we’ve delivered."
Looking ahead at Usyk’s competitive mindset and ambition to remain at the absolute summit of the sport, Warren concluded, "He’ll want to be at the top so he’ll want to fight the best ones so let’s see who it is."
For Daniel Dubois, a potential path back to Usyk involves first negotiating a treacherous and high-stakes immediate future. Dubois famously came unstuck on previous occasions when he shared the ring with the Ukrainian master, falling short in their high-profile world championship showdown. However, the young British powerhouse demonstrated immense resilience and character by coming roaring back to professional prominence, delivering a thrilling performance to defeat Fabio Wardley and capture the prestigious WBO heavyweight title.
If Dubois can successfully score a repeat victory over Wardley in their eagerly awaited rematch at The O2 Arena in London, the hard-punching heavyweight will firmly position himself to take over next year as the premier heavyweight force in world boxing.
The scale of the challenge awaiting Dubois is not lost on his coaching team. "That’s the aim, that’s our objective," Dubois’ veteran trainer, Don Charles, told Sky Sports when discussing the long-term ambitions for his fighter. "It would be foolish of me to overlook Saturday."
Charles was quick to highlight the exceptional danger posed by their upcoming opponent, offering a respectful assessment of the former champion standing across the ring. "Fabio’s a serious, serious fighter. A very determined fighter. He’s ambitious, quite rightly so and he’s a former world champion," Charles noted.
Detailing the mindset required for the weekend showdown and the defending champion’s determination to retain his grip on the belt, Charles added, "He’s going to do everything in his physical make up and desire to try and recapture his title and it’s down to us say no you can’t have it, we’re having it for keeps."
