Oleksandr Usyk has brushed aside suggestions that age could be his downfall in Saturday’s highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title clash against Britain’s Daniel Dubois.
The Ukrainian, who holds the WBA, WBO, and WBC belts, is 38—eleven years older than IBF champion Dubois. That age gap has fueled speculation that Usyk may struggle to keep pace over the distance in their bout at Wembley Stadium.
But when asked whether age might prove a weakness, Usyk was quick to shut down the narrative.
“Is that your opinion? Maybe. I don’t feel anything like that,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I respect this young guy—he’s motivated. But so am I. I’m not old. Thirty-eight is not old, you know? We’ll see on Saturday.”
The fight marks the second meeting between the pair. Usyk defeated Dubois with a ninth-round stoppage in their first encounter in Poland in 2023. Now undefeated in 23 professional bouts, Usyk is chasing a remarkable third stint as an undisputed world champion.
Dubois, meanwhile, has rebuilt his career with three consecutive victories, including a landmark win over fellow Brit Anthony Joshua at Wembley last September. If he can dethrone Usyk, he’ll become the first British undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
However, questions continue to linger over Dubois’ mental toughness—a topic Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, didn’t shy away from.
“He’s the same guy as two years ago. He still has that weakness in his mind,” Klimas said.
That remark drew a sharp response from Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles, who quipped, “Klimas must have been asleep.”
Unfazed, Klimas fired back: “While I was asleep, Usyk beat Tyson Fury twice.”
Indeed, Usyk defeated the ‘Gypsy King’ in May 2024, then repeated the feat in a December rematch, further solidifying his claim as one of the era’s greatest fighters.
Dubois, though, is determined to rewrite the script and pull off a career-defining upset.
“I’m just ready to go now. They’ve got their storyline—I’ve got mine,” he said. “I’m going to win those belts and be the man.”
With 21 knockouts in 22 wins, Dubois believes his time has come.
“I’ve prepared properly. I’m on a different level now. I’m ready for whatever comes. I’m chasing greatness, and this is my moment in history. I’ve got to do a demolition job. I’m hungry and I’m ready.”
Before leaving the final press conference, Dubois responded to reports that Canelo Alvarez had bet $500,000 on Usyk to win.
“It means nothing to me,” he said. “He’s going to lose his money. I know what I have to do. I’m the young lion—it’s time to take over and take him out.”
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