Before WBA, WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk and IBF titleholder Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois clash for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship, the pair and their respective teams took to the microphone today for the final press conference. One of the biggest events in recent British boxing history, the card takes place this Saturday, July 19, live exclusively on DAZN PPV (https://www.dazn.com/en-US/p/boxing) (12:30 p.m. ET) from London’s Wembley Stadium, brought to fans by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. 

Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) and Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) met for the first time in 2023, where the Ukrainian champion won by 9th round KO. However, the bout did come with controversy, as earlier in the fight, Dubois landed what was deemed a low blow by the referee, who allowed Usyk ample time to recover. To this day, Dubois defends that it was a legal punch. Since then, Dubois has won three fights in a row by stoppage, picking up the IBF Heavyweight Championship Usyk vacated after becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in two decades in 2024.

Saturday’s card will also include bouts featuring WBC Silver Heavyweight titleholder Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs) and current WBC Bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena (31-3, 15 KOs),  and IBF Intercontinental and WBC Continental Light Heavyweight titlist Daniel Lapin (11-0, 4 KOs) and Lewis Edmondson (11-0, 3 KOs). In preliminary action, heavyweights Vladyslav Sirenko (22-0, 19 KOs) and Solomon Dacres (9-1, 3 KOs), along with two super lightweight bouts featuring  “Prince” Aadam Hamed (5-0, 3 KOs) and Ezequiel Gregores(3-24, 0 KO) as well as James Francis (7-1, 1 KO) and 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist from Georgia Lasha Garulli (1-0), will kick off the night. 

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say:

Oleksandr Usyk

Why will Saturday be your night?

“Why is it my night? Because I believe in this. Because I hope in Jesus Christ, but I prepare for this fight.”

How much would this win mean to you?

“Listen, every fight is important for me and my team. Now it’s very important for my country and the soldiers who protect my country. Because it’s motivating for my people, it’s very important to me.” 

What do you say to those who say Father Time is catching up to you at 38?

“Listen, I respect this guy (Dubois). This young guy is motivated. But I am too. I’m not an old guy. 38 is not old. We will see Saturday. It’s God’s will.”

Do you expect to stop him [Dubois] on Saturday night?

“Yeah I believe this.”

Daniel Dubois

Why will Saturday be your night?

“Cause I prepared right. I’m just on a different level now. I’m ready to go through whatever I need to on Saturday and get all them belts. I’m chasing glory and I’m chasing greatness. 

What means more to you, avenging the 2023 loss or becoming undisputed?

“All of it, the whole thing. This is history making and I just have to do a real demolition job. I’m hungry and I’m ready for it. 

What is your reaction to hearing that the Usyk team believes you have not changed since 2023?

“Right now, I just want to get it on. I’m going to write my own script now. They’ve got a script, I’m going to write my own script. I’m going to win these belts and I’m going to be the man.” 

Last time you threw a punch competitively at Wembley Stadium, it floored Anthony Joshua. How much comfort does that give you?

“I’ve been getting a lot of confidence from my training, what I’ve done in the gym, the shots I've been landing on the people I’ve been sparring and all of that is inside of me and it’s built up, and I’m ready to let it out now.” 

How does it feel being the underdog heading into Saturday?

“Doesnt mean nothing to me. It doesn't mean shit to me. He’s going to lose his money, you know I’m just focused now. Let’s get it on.”

You’ve talked about making Oleksandr Usyk feel his age, making him feel old over night. Tell us about that.

“It’s facts, you know, I know what I’ve gotta do. I’m a young lion and I’ve just got to take over– you know, be the man and execute.”

What are your final words on why you’ll win on Saturday?

“Because I’m going to make a great fight. I’m looking forward to a great fight. I’m up for it. And I feel like at the moment, I’m at the peak of my powers and it’s gonna be a great performance. 

Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions

How are ticket sales going and why will Saturday be a special night?

“I’m excited because it's such a phenomenal, historical fight. Four belts on the line for the first time in the UK and Daniel’s chance for greatness and becoming one of the British icons by winning these belts. How’s it (ticket sales) going? We’re nigh on sold out. The atmosphere on Saturday night is going to be amazing. Everybody's going to love what they see and it will be an unbelievable, competitive, and great fight.”

Why does Dubois win on Saturday?

“I think because he’s coming into his prime, he’s had great grounding. If you look at his resume, at this age, he’s probably fought better quality fighters than most heavyweights at the age he’s at. And he’s got the experience. He’s got a great team behind him. They’ve shared the ring, they know his strengths and weaknesses. He knows he can hurt Oleksandr, he’s done that before. I feel generally that it's his time. He’s on a roll like you cannot believe, beaten world class fighters, undefeated fighters, two-time world champions, and he’s done it in style. I think he’s going to do it. I really do believe he’s going to do it on Saturday night against one of the great, great champions in heavyweight boxing.”  

Reacting to the Usyk team’s belief that Dubois has not changed since 2023 and cannot train his mind 

“We’ll see on Saturday. He’s certainly trained his mind against (Jarrell) Miller, He’s certainly trained his mind against (Filip) Hrgovic, and he’s certainly trained his mind against AJ (Anthony Joshua)  in a big way. And he's gotten better and better and he’s shown his power. He knows he can hurt Mr. Usyk, he knows that. He’s felt the power. And he’s a much, much better fighter from two and half years ago.” 

Don Charles, Daniel Dubois’ Trainer

Why is Daniel Dubois going to get the job done on Saturday?

“Basically he was born that way. I was born confident and Daniel Dubois was born that way also. His father, who is not here presently with us, was the architect. This man had a dream that when Daniel was born, this young man would become heavyweight world champion. The way it has been written in the universe, here we are today, he is the current IBF heavyweight champion. Remarkable at the mere age of 27. If you really think about what this young man has experienced to be where he is today, the sacrifices he’s always made and still making, its a prime example for any young person who wants to come into this industry and follow what this young man here has done. I’m a very spiritual man in the sense that I believe in the universe. Very spiritual. I have my own story which I’m not going to tell you here because we’ll be here until next week, but what I can tell you from the experience I’ve had in the last 24 months since I’ve been working (with Dubois), I’ve been blessed to have inherited and working with this prime athlete. It’s all for a reason. And in my opinion, in my beliefs, he’s been destined to be here today. He’s been destined for, on Saturday, to do what’s almost been deemed as impossible. The impossible becomes the possible. That’s why we're here. We’re ready. I normally have a lot today but I’m going to keep it short because the talking has been done. It’s now time for action. Please tune in those at home. Those in attendance, get behind Daniel Dubois. Let's make history together.”

Reacting to the Usyk team’s opinion that Dubois has not changed since 2023

“Everybody has their opinion. That’s his opinion. We know what we’ve done. We know what we’ve been witnessing. He must have been sleeping for the last three fights or so Daniel has had. He must have been sleeping. Can someone please wake him up?” 

Riz Khan, Daniel Dubois’ Manager

What can you tell us about Daniel Dubois heading into Saturday night?

“I think resurgence is actually a great word, and if the truth be known the resurgence started after Daniel’s last fight with Oleksandr and the architect behind the resurgence has clearly been his father, Stan Dubois, who’s meticulously hand-picked every single individual– whether it’s the coaching team, whether it’s the medics, whether it’s from a management point of view– so we have all of the credentials to support Daniel in the background. From a fighting point of view, the man that’s out there is two years older, two years wiser, two years more experienced with another four fights under his belt. Daniel Dubois is not even at the peak as a 27-year-old, so we’ve got another few years left in the tank, but he’s going into that ring to take that undisputed crown and he’s ready now.”

Reacting to the Usyk team’s opinion that Dubois has not changed since 2023

“Team Usyk seem to be hanging on to a notion that Daniel’s not changed. Well, I think they are rattled solely because they’re using the same line, ‘Daniel’s not changed.’ As I mentioned earlier, we’ve built up a big team over the last eighteen months, and Daniel’s had four big fights and he’s been explosive in every single one. So I think for the team Usyk circus to continue to say Daniel’s not changed, well, we’ll see on Saturday night.”

Sergey Lapin, Oleksandr Usyk’s Team Director 

What are your thoughts going into Saturday?

“This illusions, you know, every time Dubois’ team speaks, these other guys, (they say) he’s strong, (that Dubois is) mentally focused. No. These are illusions [by] his team. Sorry, but there’s been no change. Two years, no change. You have to be good for 3-5 years… Saturday is just another fight and this guy is another fighter.”

Egis Klimas, Oleksandr Usyk’s Manager 

How does your man get it done on Saturday?

“Look, he did it once, and he’s going to do it again, and we’re very confident as a team.”

How dangerous of a challenge is Daniel Dubois– do you see him as a new fighter or is it just the same guy?

“It’s the same guy, what can he change in a couple of years? You cannot train your mind. I think that’s his weakness.” 

Kuba Chucki, Sports Scientist for Team Usyk

What can you tell us about the science behind Olekandr Usyk heading into Saturday?

“Oleksandr is more than ready for this upcoming fight. His physical performance, his mental performance are on an excellent level. On  the highest level, I think, in history. I know that his aging, his health, his experience, and his electric issue [have all been points of discussion]. Fans, media, don’t worry, he’s more than ready.”