Usyk-Dubois To Be A One-fight Broadcast On ESPN+
The upcoming title clash between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) and Daniel Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) will be a one-fight broadcast on ESPN+ for American viewers. Big Fight Weekend had previously confirmed in July that the fight itself would be available in the United States on ESPN+. A recent Top Rank Boxing press release states that only the main event between Usyk and Dubois will be broadcast.
Usyk will make the second defense of his IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles against Dubois on Saturday, August 26. He won those titles in a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Joshua in 2021. Usyk then successfully defended those titles via a split decision victory in a 2022 rematch against Joshua. Now, he takes on Dubois in a headliner at the Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland. The ESPN+ broadcast will begin at 5 p.m. ET and ringwalks will take place shortly after.
Previously, Usyk has spoken about how this bout will be the closest he gets to a homecoming. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an event could not be planned in his home country. Wrocław is a city in western Poland that is home to a lot of Ukrainians. Many have moved there following the invasion of Ukraine. For this reason, Saturday’s bout is viewed as a homecoming fight. In the past, fellow Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko made a title defense in Wrocław against Tomasz Adamek. Klitschko won the fight via tenth round stoppage.
Usyk-Dubois press conference
Usyk and Dubois met at a final press conference (which coincided with Ukrainian Independence Day) before they face each other on Saturday. Below are some statements from the conference:
“My preparation is all good,” said Usyk. “We did a lot of work with swimming, we played football, we danced.”
“I’m grateful to my team, my family, my wife. I’m grateful to my country and to Ukrainian soldiers.”
Usyk also received a gift from the Ukrainian military during the press conference. He was presented with a painting of a religious icon that was painted onto wooden panels from a box used to hold ammunition during fighting that took place in the city of Bakhmut.
“I’m ready,” said Dubois. “I’ve suffered through training camp, I’ve done all of that. I’m ready now, I’ve prepared. I’ve left no stone unturned. I’m ready, I’m confident, I’m ready to go right now.”
Currently writing out of Toronto, Canada, Saadeq first became a boxing fan while living in Doha, Qatar. Looking to become more involved in the sport, he began writing about boxing and has had work published in outlets such as Seconds Out and Boxing Social. He looks forward to continue covering boxing on Big Fight Weekend.
