Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois confirmed for August in Poland

Daniel Dubois will challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world heavyweight titles on Poland on 26 August.

The Ukrainian will put his WBO, IBF and WBA (Super) titles on the line against the Londoner at the 24,000-capacity Tarczynski Arena.

Dubois, the mandatory challenger for the WBA title, will seek to become the first man to defeat Usyk who is undefeated in 20 professional bouts, having outclassed Anthony Joshua in his last two fights.

Usyk had been set to meet WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury earlier this year in a fight to crown the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis.

Those plans fell through in March with efforts to revive the fight in Saudi Arabia later this year so far showing little promise. Usyk’s focus is now on Dubois, who has won 18 of his 19 bouts, fighting in neighbouring Poland.

The bout will be aired on TNT Sports PPV in the UK following this summer’s rebranding of BT Sport.

Over a million Ukrainians have fled to neighbouring Poland since the Russian invasion of their homeland in February 2022.

The fight date against Dubois also falls two days after Ukraine’s Independence Day on 24 August.

‘I am very glad that we have the opportunity to organise my fight in Poland, where I won my first world title seven years ago,’ Usyk said.

‘I want to thank the Polish people who are helping Ukraine so sincerely,” Usyk added: “Hundreds of thousands of my compatriots have been hosted by this wonderful country.

‘Therefore, I hope that my fight will become one more opportunity for Ukrainians and people of Poland to unite and strengthen our friendship.’

Dubois, who recently split from trainer Shane McGuigan to link up with Don Charles, said: ‘He is a great fighter and I do respect him, but it’s my time now.

‘I’m going to shock the world and show people how good Daniel Dubois really is.’

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