Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has surprisingly rated Anthony Joshua as a better boxer than Daniel Dubois, despite Joshua’s recent loss to the latter. Usyk, who has beaten both British fighters in his career, shared his assessment in a recent interview with TNT Sports.
A Comparison of Two Fighters
When asked to compare Joshua and Dubois, Usyk stated, “Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion, two-time world champion. Daniel is a young boy, yeah? But Anthony is the best boxer.” Usyk elaborated on his point, saying, “You cannot compare the two guys. These are completely different types of athletes. The only thing that is in common is that they both are boxers.”
Usyk’s Experience Against Both Fighters
Usyk is well-qualified to judge both fighters, having defeated Joshua in back-to-back fights in 2021 and 2022. He also beat Dubois via knockout in August 2023 during his first heavyweight title defense.
Joshua’s Recent Loss to Dubois
Joshua has since fought Dubois for the IBF title but suffered a shocking knockout inside five rounds. Despite this loss, Usyk still rates Joshua higher than Dubois.
Future Fights for Joshua and Dubois
Neither Joshua nor Dubois has fought since their clash. A rematch was initially on the cards but reportedly fell through due to “niggling injuries” on Joshua’s part. Dubois has since been targeting an undisputed rematch with Usyk, but the Ukrainian champion has now been ordered to fight WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker instead.
Joshua’s Focus on Two Potential Opponents
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed that the former two-time heavyweight champion has a clear focus on just two potential opponents for his next fight. “There are only two fights that Anthony is interested in. The first is with Tyson Fury and the second is with Daniel Dubois,” Hearn said.
A Potential Fight with Fury
Hearn added, “In my dreams, Tyson Fury will have already made his return to the ring soon, ideally in the next few months, which would allow for a fight with Joshua this year.” However, Hearn noted that there are no guarantees, and the fight’s outcome is uncertain.