In a highly charged atmosphere at Wembley Stadium, former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and Britain’s IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois are set to face off today in a rematch destined to shape boxing history. The stage is set following a controversial first bout in August 2023, where Usyk earned a ninth-round stoppage over Dubois amidst uproar over a fifth-round body shot ruled a low blow.
The weigh-in on Friday set the tension simmering: Usyk tipped the scales at 227.3 lb while Dubois weighed in 243.8 lb—approximately 16 lb heavier, though notably lighter than his previous outing against Anthony Joshua . The psychological duel played out as Usyk invaded Dubois’s space during their stare-down, flexing for the crowd, only for Dubois to stand his ground, eyes fixed on the Ukrainian champion.
Dubois, 27, strides into this showdown brimming with confidence. With 22 wins—21 by knockout—and recent emphatic victories against the likes of Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua, the young Briton believes he has reached a new level . Backed by trainer Don Charles and powered by a growing belief that Usyk’s age (38) may have caught up with him, Dubois is eager to start fast and exert his size and power from the opening bell.
In contrast, Usyk enters the ring with unmatched technical prowess and an unblemished record of 23‑0 with 14 knockouts. The former cruiserweight Olympic gold medalist has twice defeated Tyson Fury since his win over Dubois and remains confident that precision, rhythm, and ring IQ will outsmart Dubois’s raw aggression . Analysts, including Timothy Bradley, emphasize Usyk’s era-defining ringcraft that could neutralize Dubois’s size and power.
The narrative of the rematch is laced with controversy. Dubois’s camp continues to contest the legality of the 2023 low blow, with trainer Don Charles accusing Usyk of “cheating” and staging an Oscar-worthy reaction. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have publicly asserted that the punch was clean, highlighting a rift in boxing’s interpretation of the moment.
Tonight’s bout—scheduled for 12 rounds and broadcast live on DAZN Pay‑Per‑View—will crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. The winner walks away with all four belts and global acclaim. For Dubois, it’s a shot at rewriting history as Britain’s first undisputed heavyweight champ since Lennox Lewis in 1999. For Usyk, a victory would further cement his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
With a near-capacity crowd of around 90,000, palpable in the Wembley air, and tensions amplified over every stare, shuffle, and snide remark, boxing’s biggest rematch of the year is finally here. When the bell rings tonight, the heavyweight world holds its breath—ready for either a passing-of-the-torch moment or another masterclass by Usyk.
