David Haye has voiced his opinion on the upcoming heavyweight title fight between unified champion, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
Like Usyk, Haye is one of just a few men to win world titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Usyk had been looking to become the only man in the four belt era to be undisputed in both divisions, but negotiations with WBC champion, Tyson Fury, fell apart earlier this year.
Following that collapse the Ukrainian turned his attentions to his mandatory obligations, with WBA regular champion, Dubois, first in line.
Speaking to Seconds Out about the fight, Haye predicts Usyk will keep hold of his belts, but isn’t ruling out the Brit from causing the upset.
“It’s hard to bet against Usyk. Master skills, he showed how he could control Anthony Joshua over 24 rounds, he controlled the large majority of that fight and showed he can take a dig at heavyweight.
Daniel Dubois is going to need to do something he hasn’t done yet, he hasn’t done anything in any previous fights, other than the knockouts, I’m talking about stylistically breaking people down. When he’s been in there with a southpaw being able to control the range. The last southpaw he fought he had a very, very, tough night, found himself on the canvas a few times.
I hope he’s been sparring some good quality southpaws because he’s going to need to because he has an uphill task against Usyk, but you know, never write off a heavyweight. He’s a big, young, strong heavyweight with nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Usyk and Dubois will go face to face on August 26 in Poland, with the event broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports PPV.