Oleksandr Usyk wants to 'bring glory' to Ukraine when he takes on Daniel Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland
ByTNT Sports
Published 10/07/2023 at 11:53 GMT+1
Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world heavyweight titles against British challenger Daniel Dubois on Saturday, 26 August, live on TNT Sports. It will be the unbeaten Ukrainian's first title defence since he beat Anthony Joshua to retain the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and Ring magazine belts back in Saudi Arabia last year. Usyk says he wants to make his country proud when he faces the Briton in Poland.
Oleksandr Usyk
Image credit: Getty Images
World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk says he wants to "bring glory" to Ukraine when he takes on Great Britain's Daniel Dubois in Wroclaw on August 26, live on TNT Sports.
Dubois became the mandatory challenger to Usyk back in June 2022, beating American Trevor Bryan by knockout to win the WBA 'regular' heavyweight title.
It will be Usyk's (20-0-0) first title defence since he beat Anthony Joshua to retain the WBA 'super', IBF, WBO and Ring magazine belts in Saudi Arabia last year.
Usyk will be fighting in Poland for the first time since 2015 where he won the WBO world cruiserweight title against Krzysztof Glowacki.
The fight location of Wroclaw, Poland, was selected to honour the Ukrainian refugees who have fled their home nation to its western neighbour following Russia's invasion of the country.
Usyk says the war efforts of the Ukrainian people is what allows him to continue his decorated boxing career.
"I want to thank the guys who are defending Ukraine now," he told reporters.
"Only for the reason we are doing this we have the opportunity to defend our titles, to have our fights outside of Ukraine and bring glory to our country and to the flag of our country.
"I'm really happy to be back in Poland. This country greeted me well, we've become the WBO cruiserweight champion here together. In the next seven years I have collected several belts. Now I'm back in Poland here to defend them.
"I want to thank the people of Poland for the support they are giving to Ukraine.
"I've been travelling around the world fighting in different backyards of my opponents, but this fight here in Poland will be the closest one to my home.
"I hope you are going to enjoy everything that is going to happen on August 26 in Wroclaw."
Dubois has not fought since featuring on the undercard of Tyson Fury's bout with Dereck Chisora last December when he defeated Kevin Lerena by knockout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 25-year-old was dropped three times in the first round, but fought back and stopped Lerena in the third.
As he prepares to take on heavyweight champion Usyk, he says "everything with a beginning has an end".
"The knee is fine. That's all cleared up now," he said.
"I'm in training camp, everything is going well. I'm grateful for this opportunity and I'm ready to take it with both hands.
"This has been a long time coming and I'm ready to take it on. Usyk has been a great champion, but everything with a beginning has an end and I'm ready."
Share this article
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement