George Groves has weighed in with a prediction for the upcoming heavyweight world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
Usyk is an overwhelming betting favourite to retain his WBA, WBO and IBF belts, with few giving Dubois much more than a puncher’s chance on August 26 in Wroclaw.
In a recent interview with IFL TV, Groves admitted that was a view he agreed with, calling Usyk “the most skilful heavyweight in the division.”
“He [Dubois] has got a puncher’s chance. He’s probably one of the hardest punching heavyweights out there. But he’s got to land on Usyk, and I don’t see how you can do that.”
“He’s moved away from Shane McGuigan and he’s working with Don Charles. That’s a new relationship you’re trying to form, and this is their first fight together.”
“Dubois had a knee injury last fight which he’s had to overcome, and he had a bit of a sticky spell in that fight too.”
“Usyk is the most skilful heavyweight in the division, and I think Dubois has got it all to do.”
Taking place in Poland, which neighbours his native Ukraine, the fight will serve as a homecoming of sorts for Usyk and is expected to be a sell out on the night.
It will be his first outing in almost exactly a year, since his victory over Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia last year.
Though Dubois is a heavy handed and will have every intention of upsetting the odds, the boxing world had hoped to see Usyk lock horns with a different British heavyweight in 2023- a certain Tyson Fury.
Should he come through Dubois, it’s reported that talks for that undisputed fight will resume.