Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has laid out the blueprint for how Daniel Dubois can upset Oleksandr Usyk in Saturday night’s heavyweight showdown at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking ahead of the undisputed title clash, Lewis said he felt Dubois had the physical tools to cause the Ukrainian problems, but made it clear the British heavyweight must impose himself early to have any chance of victory.
‘Oleksandr Usyk has a very high ring IQ but he’s not a natural heavyweight, he’s a built-up heavyweight,’ said Lewis. ‘Daniel is a natural heavyweight and he can use that to his advantage, especially in the opening few rounds, and push Usyk to the ropes.
‘I used to call Usyk a rabbit because he jumps around – but you can’t allow him to do that. He needs to put pressure on with his feet, push him back to the ropes and make sure he is first and last with his combinations. When I boxed Evander Holyfield, I knew he was good technically and that I had to be better than him – and I was.’
Lewis, who retired at the top of the sport after defeating Vitali Klitschko in 2003, believes this could be the right moment for Usyk to walk away – particularly if he adds Dubois to his list of conquests.
‘Yes,’ Lewis said when asked if Usyk should retire with a win. ‘He has nothing left to prove. He could have walked away before this fight and in boxing Daniel Dubois again, he’s taking a big risk. But if he feels he can come through it, the risk is good, because the title he can claim is big.
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (left) has shared his opinion on Daniel Dubois (right) and Oleksandr Usyk
Lennox Lewis, 59, has explained how Dubois can beat Usyk at Wembley this evening
Lewis said he wishes he was still boxing as he would make it his mission to beat Usyk
‘He may be pushing it, but to fight on you’ve got to have a get-out plan. When you work, you have to have a get-out plan. If I work for seven years I can get out, and his get-out plan is one more fight.’
Despite the respect he has for Usyk’s skills, Lewis admitted he isn’t entirely comfortable with a former cruiserweight now dominating the heavyweight division.
‘It’s not cool. That’s why I wish I was still fighting. That would be my challenge – to go after Usyk and beat him. I’ve watched all of his fights and I know how I would beat him. I would do it in the way I am telling Daniel to do it – push him up against the ropes with the jab and then take advantage of him.’
Asked whether it’s a bad look for natural heavyweights when a smaller man rises through the divisions and wins at the top level, Lewis didn’t hesitate.
‘Yes it is. It is because it takes away from that natural, heavy weight aspect. And then it really comes back into: how did he do it? What did he do to win? Well, that big heavyweight has to do more or better.’
Lewis believes Dubois has a better shot against Usyk than Tyson Fury would have had in their originally planned first bout.
‘I would say Daniel has a better chance than Tyson Fury had against Oleksandr Usyk, because I would say Daniel follows orders better than Tyson.’
When asked which British fighter has given Usyk the most problems to date, Lewis pointed to Derek Chisora’s effort in 2020 as a model performance.
Usyk is looking to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time
‘The way Chisora boxed him was, I think, the best. A lot of people should learn from that – especially even Daniel should learn from that. Because if you asked Usyk if he would box him again, you’d probably say: no.’
While the fight may be Usyk’s last, Lewis believes it’s understandable if the Ukrainian’s passion is waning.
‘When you look at who’s out there for him to fight – he’s boxed everybody. He’s boxed a couple people twice. You know it’s good that he’s got a get out – a get out plan – and he’s sticking by it.’
And what about Anthony Joshua? Is there still something in the tank?
‘It depends what he wants to prove. If he wants to prove he’s still got it, then he has to come back and box someone who still has it. Everyone is looking at the Tyson Fury fight and I think that’s a good fight for him. We need to see that fight – I think they owe it to the British public.’
But Lewis questioned Joshua’s absence from the build-up to Saturday’s blockbuster.
‘I think it’s a missed opportunity, Joshua not being at ringside. He should show up if he wants to fight and he feels he’s still got it.’
