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LONDON — Daniel Dubois has said he will “be the man” against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday when they fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship at London’s Wembley Stadium.
While the final news conference was a tepid one on Thursday, Dubois was brimming with confidence off the back of his knockout victory over Anthony Joshua in September.
The IBF champion will bid to become the first British undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 when he fights the unbeaten WBA, WBC and WBO title holder Usyk.
– In camp with Usyk: Behind the scenes with a heavyweight champion
– Dubois plans to unleash ‘chaos’ on Usyk
– Usyk vows to fight in Ukraine before retirement
“Right now, I just want to get it on. I’m going to write my own script. I’m going to win these belts,” Dubois said.
“I’m going to be the man.
“I’ve prepared right, I’m just a different level now. I’m going to do whatever I need to do whatever I need to do on Saturday, I’m chasing glory and chasing greatness.
“This is history making. I’ve just got to do a real demolition job. I’m hungry and I’m ready for it.”
Dubois also dismissed claims that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has placed a $500,000 bet on Usyk to win the fight.
“It means nothing to me,” he said. “He’s going to lose his money. I’m just focused now. Let’s get it on.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Usyk said the fight means everything to him and his war-torn country.
“Every fight is important to me and my team,” he said.
“Now it’s very important or my country, for soldiers who protect my country because it’s a motivation for my people. It’s very important for me.”
Usyk beat Dubois with a Round 9 knockout in their first encounter in 2023 and while the Brit’s team insist he is a much-improved fighter — with wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Joshua behind him — Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas challenged that assumption.
“He [Usyk] did it once and he’s going to do it again,” Klimas said.
“It’s the same guy [Dubois]. What can he change in a couple of years? You cannot train your mind and that’s I think his weakness.”
Dubois’ Promoter Frank Warren refuted Klimas’ claim.
“We’ll see on Saturday, he certainly trained his mind against Miller, against Hrgovic and he certainly trained his mind against AJ [Joshua].
“He’s got better and better and he’s shown his power. He knows he can hurt Mr. Usyk. He’s [Usyk] felt the power. “