Oleksandr Usyk says Daniel Dubois confirmed “weak point” by pushing him throughout their face-off as they promoted their rematch to develop into the undisputed world heavyweight champion at London’s Wembley Stadium on 19 July.
Briton Dubois is the IBF champion, with Ukraine’s Usyk holding the WBA (Tremendous), WBO and WBC belts.
Usyk is undefeated in 23 fights and beat Dubois, 27, by way of a ninth-round stoppage in August 2023.
A day after their struggle was confirmed, the pair posed for photos on the pitch at Wembley on Monday when Dubois shoved 38-year-old Usyk within the chest.
Safety stepped in between the pair earlier than Usyk turned away and commenced laughing.
When requested if Dubois had improved since their final struggle two years in the past, Usyk informed BBC Sport: “I feel he has, Daniel wins the IBF belt, has crushed three good fighters. He’s a world champion, a tough man, a harmful man.”
Requested if the Englishman had modified mentally, Usyk replied: “Mentally no, push is a weak point.”
Explaining why he pushed Usyk, Dubois stated: “Its a brand new me, the worry of appearing in a selected means will not be there any extra, now I must do what I must do, that is the struggle recreation, that is boxing.”
There was controversy the final time they fought when Usyk was floored within the fifth spherical however the punch was declared a low blow by the referee.
Promoter Frank Warren misplaced an enchantment to the WBA for Dubois’ loss to Usyk to be dominated a no contest and {that a} rematch be ordered.
Dubois stated Usyk precipitated him “a whole lot of ache and frustration” nevertheless it “helped me to succeed in even additional”
He added: “It should really feel even higher when it is performed, I’ve knocked out and received. Put demons to mattress and put proper what went flawed.”
