Lennox Lewis expecting a ‘different' Daniel Dubois in Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Usyk has already claimed one victory against Dubois back in Poland in 2023, but Lewis feels the 27-year-old from London is no longer the 'baby' of the heavyweight scene and ready to grasp his date with destiny in front of more than 90,000 at England's national stadium.
Daniel Dubois keeping a close eye on his rival 🍿
The undisputed fight is live worldwide & available to buy NOW via @daznboxing 🌎#UsykDubois2 | Wembley Stadium | July 19th | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/k24928bcXl
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) July 18, 2025
'Dubois was a baby in the sport and now he's a man. He's been knocked down, he's been hit with a right hand, called all sorts of names but he's come through that and that's growth,' Lewis insisted.
'He has been hurt and got back up. I think he has grown as a fighter. You're not going to see the same Daniel Dubois from 18 months ago. You won't see the same guy. He is going to be a different fighter in this next fight.
'Usyk probably thinks Daniel is weak mentality but I think he is strong mentality.
'I think you have to grow from weak to strong. He has obviously prepared himself for what is coming and he is ready for this challenge.'
Dubois' career was at a juncture after he tasted defeat by a ninth-round stoppage to Usyk 18 months ago.
Further questions were asked of Dubois, despite being able to floor Usyk for close to four minutes with what was deemed an illegal low blow.
The response has been impressive with Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and compatriot Anthony Joshua stopped in stunning fashion and Dubois has collected the IBF-belt along the way to fulfil his lifelong dream.
Dubois' dad Dave, also known as Stan, has been in his corner during those fights and always predicted his son would one day achieve the greatness Lewis experienced in 1999.
Lewis added: 'You've got to keep your superpowers with you. If you're father is in the corner, that's added strength and you need all your strength, especially going for this fight.
'It's the biggest fight of his career so he has to sacrifice everything and make sure his team is strong. His dad being there, his team is strong.'
It was at Peacock Gym in Canning Town where Lewis first laid eyes on Dubois and feels the stars could align under the Wembley arch on Saturday.
'He's grown as a boxer right in front of our eyes,' Lewis reflected.
'He is believing in himself more, he is working harder and he has been focused for a long time. A lot of people don't realise how much sacrifice he has done.
'Climbing to the top, you've got to have been through trials and tribulations and Daniel has been through his.
'Now he is right there, he was almost there the other day, he knows what it feels like and got a taste for it, now he wants the whole thing.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Daniel Dubois immediately told he won't fight for six months after brutal KO
Daniel Dubois was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight clash at Wembley Stadium and will take some time out of boxing to recover before plotting his next move Daniel Dubois has been told to take six months off and learn from Oleksandr Usyk's mental resilience if he is to make it back to the top. Promoter Frank Warren wants his man to take a long break after he was knocked out by the Ukrainian at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. Dubois, 27, suffered his third career defeat - and his second against Usyk - as he surrendered the IBF heavyweight crown against the now three-time undisputed champion. Warren said: 'You've got to learn from defeats, I mean that's what life's about, isn't it? You know, not everything goes your way, you got to come back, it's the mark of a man if he can do it, and we'll see if he could do it. 'He's got to resurrect himself. That's what we've had to do. That's the story. Usyk a quality, quality fighter, he has a great boxing IQ, and he's got the most unbelievable mental attitude. "That's what makes him. That's what Daniel's got to learn from. Try and get and develop the mental attitude that Usyk has.' Dubois was floored twice on the way to his third loss but was able to rise to his feet and walk back to his corner. The British heavyweight was checked over by medics but did not need to go to hospital and returned home on Saturday night. Warren still wants his fighter to have a good break after a gruelling training camp to get ready for the Wembley Stadium clash. He said: 'About six months easy.' The Queensbury promoter also had some praise for Usyk. "We witnessed one of the true modern-day legends tonight in action," he said. "Oleksandr Usyk for me is a heavyweight in any generation that would be an outstanding fighter. "I take my hat off to him in how he coped, how he showed such mental resilience in someone's back yard, he is something special. He is a special fighter. Daniel is obviously very disappointed, he is in the dressing room at the moment but he will come back." It was another triumphant night for Usyk, who claimed the 24th win of his glittering career. It was also his seventh consecutive triumph over British fighters, following wins over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and saw him reclaim the IBF title and complement his WBA, WBO, and WBC belts, becoming a two-time undisputed champion in the heavyweight division. "I have to commend him on his performance," Dubois said. "I gave everything I had, probably a few things I could have sharpened up on, but take no credit away from the man. I was just fighting, I was in a fight and trying to pick up round by round. "It is what it is, but I'll be back. I want to thank everyone for coming out. I gave my best, we'll go back to the drawing board and come again."
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Oleksandr Usyk's insane payday for 14 minutes of work after Ukrainian beat Daniel Dubois
Oleksandr Usyk made relatively quick work of Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday and Ukrainian was more than well paid for the minutes that he spent in the ring. Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion again with an excellent performance which saw him stop Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley. The 38-year-old preserved his unbeaten record and once again crushed Dubois' hopes of claiming boxing's biggest prize. The victory saw him reclaim the IBF title, adding it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts. Usyk will reportedly earn £97.5m for his evening's work while Dubois is expected to take home £52.5m. The fight was brought to an end with 1.09 minutes left in fifth round, meaning the bout lasted 13.51 minutes in total. Usyk exploded in the fifth, sending the 27-year-old to the deck with a slick left hand. The Brit managed to get back his feet but he was clearly in massive trouble and Usyk took advantage. Another brutal left hook followed moments later and Dubois' corner had seen enough as the referee's count neared 10. They threw in the towel to bring an end to the punishment and it was the right thing to do. Speaking after the fight, Usyk said: '38 is a young guy, remember! 38 is only (the) start! 'I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people. 'Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.' Meanwhile, Dubois to return after suffering the first defeat of his career. 'I gave everything I had,' He said. 'I take no credit away from the man. But I'll be back.' The win ensures Usyk reclaims the IBF belt he vacated last year, before a December rematch with Tyson Fury, with Dubois upgraded to champion and then defending the title against compatriot Anthony Joshua last September. The unification fight was a rematch of one that Dubois lost by a controversial ninth-round knockout in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2023, after Usyk was given time to recover from what the referee ruled was a low blow.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Daniel Dubois urged to use Frank Bruno as inspiration after crushing Usyk defeat
Dubois lost for the third time in his career after he was stopped in the fifth round at Wembley on Saturday night to new undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk. British boxer Dubois (22-3, 21KOs) played his part in four highly-competitive rounds but was put down by a vicious right punch and while he bravely made the count, Usyk delivered a sensational left hit titled 'Ivan' to bring the rematch to a close. The ringside angle of 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 left hand by Oleksandr Usyk🎯#UsykDubois2 — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 19, 2025 It means former IBF-belt holder Dubois is back in rebuild territory – like in 2023 after his first loss to Usyk in Poland – and Queensberry chief Frank Warren challenged the 27-year-old to regroup again. Warren talked up the example of Dubois' compatriot Bruno, who lost his first three world titles fights before he finally clinched the WBC belt in his 44th bout back in 1995. Asked how long Dubois will need out of the ring, Warren said: 'About six months out. It won't be before then. 'I thought up until that (fifth) round it was a pretty good fight to watch. Daniel is obviously very disappointed. 'He has got to learn from it. He is only 27. I look at Frank Bruno for example, three times he fought for a world title and he got it on the fourth attempt. 'Daniel has won a world title so hopefully he will come back, but the bottom line is it was Usyk's night and he is a special, special boxer.' Dubois earned this opportunity after a golden 10-month period where he stopped Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but Usyk again showed the difference in level at the summit of the blue-riband division. Warren felt Dubois got 'careless' during round five after he had pushed Usyk early on during a pulsating contest in London. 'That is what Daniel needs to learn from this fight, to try and learn and develop the mental attitude that Usyk has,' Warren explained. 'Daniel didn't stick to the task, he got careless, he dropped his hands and paid the price. 'For Daniel now, he'll have a little break, think about things and he has got to resurrect himself. 'What level? He's got to come back and make a statement. He needs to make a statement against a quality fighter like he did last time. A post shared by DAZN Boxing (@daznboxing) 'There are lots of fighters over the years who have been beaten and come back even stronger. That is what he has to do. 'He can punch, he can hurt you and it's just developing other aspects of his game.' Dubois' trainer Don Charles backed his fighter to bounce back, with Joseph Parker a potential option in 2026 if Usyk was to vacate his WBO title or low-key domestic bouts with Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte or Joe Joyce, who won their first encounter five years ago. Charles added: 'We tried to get going. He is a young champion Daniel Dubois, 27 years old, remarkable what he has achieved to date. 'He will be back from this stronger. Usyk is a generational great, if you're going to lose to someone, lose to someone like that. He'll be back from this.'
