Daniel Dubois will travel to Poland fully confident of taking Oleksandr Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles back home to Britain.
Following a victory over Trevor Bryan to secure the WBC Regular belt, Dubois defended his position in a shaky performance against Kevin Lerena to justify his mandatory shot.
The elite Ukrainian – who was formerly undisputed at cruiserweight and remains undefeated – will enter the ring a heavy favourite, particularly after the Lerena fight in which Dubois was knocked down three times in the first round.
He told Boxing Social that all it did was prepare him to win.
“That just put fuel in the tank. These experiences, you can call on when you need them. Right now, I’m going into a new battle, a new challenge, and I just see it all as leading to this moment. The unified world titles, you don’t get bigger than that.”
“I’m definitely proud to represent [the UK] … this is the greatest moment of my life so far, this is what I’ve been working for. What else can you say? It’s a life-changing moment and I want to make history.”
Dubois praised his new trainer Don Charles, believing the British trainer’s experience will lend itself well to their challenge.
As for tape, the 25-year-old has four heavyweight fights to go off. Usyk fought Chazz Witherspoon, Derek Chisora and then Anthony Joshua twice on his way here, but Dubois believes he ‘wants it more’ than all of them.
He told Boxing Social that he had watched the Joshua fights numerous times in preparation.
“I feel like I can capitalise on certain things I’ve seen. I been watching the Joshua fights a lot. I just do more than these guys, want it more. These guys are at the top of their game, I’m coming up. I’m a contender. In this fight I’m the underdog, so there’s no pressure.”
“And the new… Definitely.”
The heavyweight title fight will take place at the Tarczynski Arena, with the promoters believing it can be a 43,000 sell-out. Fans in the UK will be able to tune in on TNT Sports Box Office – formerly BT Sport.