WBA heavyweight mandatory challenger has embraced his position as the underdog as he continues his preparations to challenge unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on August 26th in Wroclaw, Poland.
Dubois (19-1) has rebuilt his standing within the heavyweight division as one of the most exciting talents to watch at heavyweight following the sole loss of his career against Joe Joyce in November 2020. Dubois was halted after sustaining a fractured eye socket following a jab of which Dubois took a knee and was counted out.
However, the 25-year-old has spoken about the opportunity to face Usyk on such a big occasion which coincides with the Ukrainian independence celebrations.
“It’s the world, it’s everything," Dubois said to TNT Sports. "It’s every heavyweight fighter’s dream to fight for all the belts, unified titles. It’s what I’ve been working towards. It means so much to me right now, I’m ready to go, let’s get it on.
“My Dad always told me before I even started boxing, 'You want to be heavyweight champion'. We were watching Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno and all them guys. They did it so now it’s my turn. They laid the foundations. It’s my time now. I’ve been working hard. I’ve been in the gym. I’ve been through ups and downs. I’ve learnt my lessons and I’m ready to take them on, take all them belts.”
Dubois feels that there is no expectation or pressure on him to secure victory against Usyk and that he is already being overlooked by many and definitely with the oddsmakers.
“It’s not pressure for me, you know, this fight, it’s no pressure," Dubois said. "I’ve got to go in there and I’ve got to do a job on him. The bookies and all that, it is what it is. He’s the favorite, we all know that already, so there’s no pressure for me.
“It’s not relaxed, but it’s all just clear. The path is clear. Not too many noises, not too many voices trying to pull you around here and there. I don’t listen to that anyway, so that wouldn’t make a difference, but it’s good to be the underdog. That’s what I like."
