Is Daniel Dubois the future of British boxing?

On 19 July, under the lights of Wembley Stadium, Daniel Dubois will walk out to face the toughest, most defining challenge of his career: a second meeting with Oleksandr Usyk.

For the second time, he’ll attempt to dethrone one of the most complete fighters of this generation—this time not just to avenge a controversial defeat, but to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

It’s a moment of truth for Dubois. But it’s also something more—a potential passing of the torch in British boxing, should he find a way to do what no man has done before and defeat Usyk.

The comeback story

To understand how significant this moment is for Dubois, you need to revisit the first fight between the pair in August 2023.

That night in Wroclaw, Poland, Dubois was a heavy underdog, dismissed by many as too raw and too limited to trouble the Ukrainian maestro. And for much of the early rounds, that looked to be the case. Usyk danced, darted, and jabbed his way into control, justifying his favouritism in the Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois betting.

Then came round five. Dubois landed a heavy right hand to the body that sent Usyk to the canvas. It was ruled a low blow by the referee—a split-second decision that would shape the fight and, arguably, the trajectory of both men’s careers. Usyk was given almost five minutes to recover before resuming control and eventually stopping Dubois in the ninth.

The decision sparked fierce debate. Was the punch low? Or was Dubois denied a legitimate knockout and the biggest win of his life?

Whatever the truth, the result stood: Usyk won. Dubois lost. And for many fighters, that could have been the end of the story. But Dubois came back stronger. Over the next 18 months, he reinvented himself—not through noise or an eccentric personality, but through action.

He knocked out Filip Hrgovic, a rising star and former Olympic bronze medallist. Then he did what few expected and stopped Anthony Joshua with a brutal right hand to claim the IBF world title. It was a statement that resonated far beyond the shores of the UK.

A different Dubois

There’s always been power in Dubois’ hands. But since the Usyk loss, it’s the mental side of his game that has grown most.

He fights with more patience now. More control. There’s a poise to him that wasn’t there before—a recognition that big moments don’t need to be rushed, that timing and precision are just as devastating as raw aggression.

His critics once said he lacked heart, citing his 2020 loss to Joe Joyce, in which he took a knee with a fractured orbital bone. Those doubts have slowly faded. This is a Dubois who has learned how to lose and, in doing so, has taught himself how to win at the highest level.

Still only 27, he stands at the threshold of something few British fighters ever achieve, the chance to unify the heavyweight division. Should he beat Usyk, he won’t just become champion. He’ll become the face of a new era.

The mountain ahead

But let’s not kid ourselves—beating Oleksandr Usyk is a monumental task. The Ukrainian is a genius in the ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight king who stepped up to heavyweight and barely missed a beat. He outboxed Anthony Joshua—twice. And he out-thought Tyson Fury over two fights, showing stamina, skill and steel. He moves like a middleweight, punches with surprising power, and processes fights like a chess master.

Usyk is the complete package. And on current form, no one in the division can match his versatility and fight IQ. He’ll enter Wembley as the favourite. And rightly so. But heavyweights are different, and fights always have that unpredictable nature.

That said, heavyweight boxing has a habit of ignoring logic. One clean shot can change everything. And Dubois has that shot. He also has motivation. There’s something dangerous about a fighter who believes he was robbed of glory once before—and who has spent two years obsessing over the moment it was taken from him.

He won’t outbox Usyk over 12 rounds, those that bet on boxing know that. He doesn’t need to. All he needs is one perfect punch. And this time, he’ll be ready when the opening comes.

A night for answers

So, is Daniel Dubois the future of British boxing? That question won’t be answered by hype or speculation—it’ll be answered on 19 July.

If he falls short again, he’ll still be young enough to rebuild. But if he wins? If he knocks out Usyk at Wembley, on the biggest night of his career?

Then it’s not just his future we’re talking about. It’s his era.