July 15, 2025 • 10 mins
On Saturday night at famed Wembley Stadium in London IBF heavyweight champ Daniel Dubois gets a rematch with unified champ Oleksandr Usyk for the four belt championship. He joins our insider Dan Rafael one on one to go over it all.
Their first bout ended with Usyk scoring a TKO, but not before what Dubois' camp and fans believe was a controversial punch ruled a low blow that shouldn't have been. And, the rematch is not in Usyk's "home away from home" of Poland but rather in Dubois' backyard of London.
They discuss it here on this special "Fight Freaks Unite" conversation.
And, make sure to be with us for all our great content on the "Big Fight Weekend Podcast" feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc!
Their first bout ended with Usyk scoring a TKO, but not before what Dubois' camp and fans believe was a controversial punch ruled a low blow that shouldn't have been. And, the rematch is not in Usyk's "home away from home" of Poland but rather in Dubois' backyard of London.
They discuss it here on this special "Fight Freaks Unite" conversation.
And, make sure to be with us for all our great content on the "Big Fight Weekend Podcast" feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It is my great pleasure to welcome for our podcast
this week, it is the IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World,
Daniel Duguap and Daniel, You've got a very very big
fight coming up. You're gonna be taken on. You are
the IDF champion, will be taken on the video champion
and the unified champion, Alexander Rusik. You guys will be
meeting for the undisputed heavyweight title. Will take place July
nineteenth on his own pay per view at what will
(00:23):
be a wild and packed Wembley Stadium in your hometown
of London. It's going to be a big one. Thank
you very much for doing this, Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, no pumping, man, no pumbling.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I wanted to ask you before we get into your
fight coming up with Alexander Russik. I want to talk
a little bit about that incredibly impressive victory that you
scored in September in your last fight against Anthony Joshua,
a fighter that had been beaten two times by Alexander Russik,
but certainly not in the manner that you did it.
You didn't just beat Anthony Joshua, I mean you really
destroyed him four knockdowns and a fourth round knockout that
(00:55):
many viewed as the knockout of the year. Just a
spectacular performance. And I'm sure that you were confident going
into that fight that you're gonna win defend your title.
But in your wildest dreams, did you think you're gonna
take him out the way you took him out, even
easier than when Usak out pointed him twice and when
Andy Ruis knocked him out the first time they fought.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Oh yeah, I mean, I'll bring the goods. You know.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
My dad told me that this is that's the way,
that's the way we'd have to fight. We would have
to make a rule. And yeah, no, I've got a
fire power. And yeah, it was all about.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Just see.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
He's in a moment, and that's what we did. Says
the moment and come out about bell.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yeah, so when you when you are, you're gonna be
taken on Usik in a rematch. Of course, anybody that
follows boxing knows about that first fight. August two thousand
and twenty three. You were the WBA mandatory challenge. You
guys fought in Poland and uh he scored a ninth
round knockout against you. It was a very dominating performance.
I think even you would admit that by Usik.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
There was, of course the controversy in the fifth round
of what you believe was a legal punch with Alexander
Usik and the referee thought was a low blow. But
after the fight continued once that was you know behind you,
I guess, and he was able to go on what
what what prevented you, I guess from from exploiting what
you had done to him with that shot where you
(02:18):
were really not able to get back into the fight
after that, and then of course he went on to
get the win.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Oh you're talking about the fight still? Oh really? How
can I say? I don't think I was at my
best in that performance, you know, just everything surrounding the fight.
But you know, I'm I think I feel that I'm
a new different fight now, Oh no question. I'm a
man of the future. So that was in a past.
(02:45):
I'm a man of the future, and I need to
prove that on the night that I'm not going to
be the night I'm going to come in there and
rip them bolts off of him. This is a new me,
a new fight, and I have a job to do well.
I was going to get to that.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I mean, I thought, since you're doing a rematch, it
made sense to at least have a brief conversation about
the first flight. But as you mentioned, since then, you
have had three very significant victories. You beat the undefeated
all by knockout, by the way, the undefeated Gerald Big
Baby Miller, the undefeated Philip Perginage to get the interim delt.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, all of them.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Was that the boogey man, they called him Herkovich, So yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
And then of course for josh Joshua also, Yeah, were
you at all discouraged though after you had the loss
against Luis because it shouldn't seem like that the way
you fought those three guys I just mentioned.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
No, I mean, I don't think I show my best
in the thick fight, and you know, I'm a bro fight.
I don't want to go out like that. So you know,
I needed to show what you know, what we worked on,
you know what I've got in me, and you know,
having to wrot support around me, my dad, my team,
and you know, it was no question in my mind
(03:52):
that we had to come back again and we did that.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, what do you think as you head into the
rematch will be the biggest difference for you to the
way the first fight unfolded.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
As I'm going to win. That's it simple. I'm going
to win.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I'm going to win cleaning clinically with you know, you know, fireworks,
you know, knockouts, That's how. I'm not going to be denied,
whatever way, whatever way it goes down, I'm not going
to be denied.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
He has been a great champion in the cruiserweight division.
He became the undisputed heavyweight champion. He has three of
the belts now the lineal title. But he's also thirty
eight years old. And after the fight he had with you,
he said, two very difficult, the hard fought victories against
Tyson Fury. How much do you think that those fights
have taken out of Usak physically.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
A lot?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
You know, those wars they always do. Any fighter will
tell you that. But in my fact, I'm going to
drag out a little bit more of and whatever he's
got left, I'm going to drag it out and turn
him what they whatever they want to call it old
or whatever they want to call it, but I'm going
to drag it out of him and give him a
real fight.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, I was going to say, you are on a
great role. As we just discussed your twenties. Seven years old,
you have an eleven age eleven year age advantage on
your on your behalf. How much do you think that
your level of freshness and age plays a role in
what's gonna unfold on July nineteenth?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Massively?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Anyone will tell you, you know, you can feel good fit
and when you're training in the gym, but for your
eight year old man and still a for your eight
year old man, and you can you know, you feel
the I'll make him feel you know, the all the
injuries and all of that, whatever they want to say,
But we're gonna come out on top. I'm young, I'm fresh,
and I'm in my prim right now.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
So one of the things that people have felt that
is that there is a vulnerability with USIK is the
body shots. I mean, you believe that the body shot
did the damage in the first fight. Obviously some people
thought it was a low blow. But how much is
the body attack do you think go to play a
role for Daniel Dubois in the rematch?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Every attack really, body head just pull on him, pull
on him. I mean, as a real fighting man, I'll
just say put on him. You know we're gonna we've
worked on in the gym what we need to do
and how we're gonna execute it. But uh, yeah, we've
covered We're covering no thing. You know, we're not long
to go now, and I'm sure it's gonna be the
(06:15):
world's gonna can't wait to see it. I can't wait
to deliver it when you find him. The first time
it was in Poland.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
It's sort of on his turf because it was the
closest place they can pop Wight fight by Ukraine. Now
he's coming to London to fighting your hometown. Now, He's
been a man that's traveled his entire career. He's fought
everybody in their hometowns. But for you, though, how much
of a of a factors or for you instead of
fighting in Poland, is gonna be for you to fight
him in London.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's gonna be repeat as a AJ fight again,
repeat the same you know, the same kind of crowd
will be then, you know, we'll we'll create the same atmosphere,
the same energy and we'll just do what we have
to do to win.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, what would it mean to you, Daniel to become
the undisputed champion, you have a title presently, there hasn't
been a British undisputed champ since Lennox Lewis in nineteen
ninety nine. That would be a very historical accomplishment.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Massive, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
That's going down in history books that no one can
take it away from you. You know, to win the
world's undisputed world world title, it's a huge thing. And
also I get to Queen's exact my revenge on him,
So it's a lot a lot of everything's on the
line on this one. Everything's on the line, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
That was actually one of the things I want to
ask you is in your mind, which is like the
bigger deal. Is it the revenge of the mono a
mono or is it the history of becoming undisputed? That
would be more to you, That would mean more to you.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
All of it really, because now I'm a different fighter
from when I first fought and I had no real
title belt. I mean, I was lacking up and comer,
but I'm a world champion as well, and I feel
like I'm I'm I'm on the table now and I
need to kick him off the table and take all
the belts.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
At twenty seven. Are you even in your prime yet?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Of course I'm in of course I'm in. My problem
this is you know, when I'm fresh and and I'm
arrested for the for the fight, You'll see that. But
I'm in my prob Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
I think about when you suffered the very difficult loss
to Joe Joyce in twenty twenty. It was a major
injury with your orbit bone. Uh, suffered the first defeat.
A lot of people wrote you off at that point,
at that moment when you were at the low point.
I guess after that loss, did did you think about, like,
you know, I'm going to be back at the top,
not only at the top, but in one of the
biggest fights in boxing, fighting for the undisputed heavyweight title.
(08:36):
Or did that seem like it was a million years
or a million miles away.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Oh, there was no quitting me. I feel we're gonna
come back. We're going to show everyone. Everyone has a
lot to say when you're on, when you're down, So
that just basiced me up to say, yeah, I'm glad
that happened. You know a lot, Joe, a lot, you
know that experience. Without that, I wouldn't be whey I'm today,
So I think all of those those the pain makes
(09:01):
you stronger.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
If you do become the undisputed heavyweight champion, as I
know you're very confident that you will do. Is there
a dream fight for you? There is a lot of
names in the heavyweight division. I don't know if that
means potentially a rematch against Joshua Tyson Fury, your countryman
has decided to come out of retirement. Nobody's surprised there, Uh,
that would be a big fight. Al So, what do
you think about as far as like the biggest fight
possible if you become the undisputed.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Champet whoever once it can get that's my attitude. But
how big would you fear want to fight? You know, massive?
Wouldn't it massive? That that would be? That would take
over everything? You know that that's that's got a bit
(09:45):
the top of it, and I know you've definitely come
back for that. So yeah, boxing's in a We're in
a good place. We need to win on July, bashapoo'stick
and take them belts away.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Fury says he is coming back. And the thing I
found interesting is that they're saying that he's gonna be
fighting Alexander Usik in April in his next fight, And
I thought to myself, Yeah, I mean, how's that gonna
be if if Usak doesn't.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Be for me, he's trying to just stay away from me.
I mean, they already know I'm I'm the Jinks, the
guy that you know they don't want to fight because
you know I'm I'm not I'm that guy. So I'm
gonna they try next stay away from me and need
canna have a call with me to Camp Barn or whatever.
But you know everyone knows the miss.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Bucksimbo what I'll bring to the table. So I think
you're doing do it now?
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Well, I don't think i've ever heard Tyson Perry utter
than name Daniel Juwabi forp. I guess maybe maybe he
will if you become unders be the champ. If you do,
I'll be a huge accomplishment. I wish you the best
of luck in your in your efforts, and I appreciate
your time today.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Daniel. Good luck to you, but you're dead.
It is my great pleasure to welcome for our podcast
this week, it is the IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World,
Daniel Duguap and Daniel, You've got a very very big
fight coming up. You're gonna be taken on. You are
the IDF champion, will be taken on the video champion
and the unified champion, Alexander Rusik. You guys will be
meeting for the undisputed heavyweight title. Will take place July
nineteenth on his own pay per view at what will
(00:23):
be a wild and packed Wembley Stadium in your hometown
of London. It's going to be a big one. Thank
you very much for doing this, Daniel.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, no pumping, man, no pumbling.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I wanted to ask you before we get into your
fight coming up with Alexander Russik. I want to talk
a little bit about that incredibly impressive victory that you
scored in September in your last fight against Anthony Joshua,
a fighter that had been beaten two times by Alexander Russik,
but certainly not in the manner that you did it.
You didn't just beat Anthony Joshua, I mean you really
destroyed him four knockdowns and a fourth round knockout that
(00:55):
many viewed as the knockout of the year. Just a
spectacular performance. And I'm sure that you were confident going
into that fight that you're gonna win defend your title.
But in your wildest dreams, did you think you're gonna
take him out the way you took him out, even
easier than when Usak out pointed him twice and when
Andy Ruis knocked him out the first time they fought.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Oh yeah, I mean, I'll bring the goods. You know.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
My dad told me that this is that's the way,
that's the way we'd have to fight. We would have
to make a rule. And yeah, no, I've got a
fire power. And yeah, it was all about.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Just see.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
He's in a moment, and that's what we did. Says
the moment and come out about bell.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yeah, so when you when you are, you're gonna be
taken on Usik in a rematch. Of course, anybody that
follows boxing knows about that first fight. August two thousand
and twenty three. You were the WBA mandatory challenge. You
guys fought in Poland and uh he scored a ninth
round knockout against you. It was a very dominating performance.
I think even you would admit that by Usik.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
There was, of course the controversy in the fifth round
of what you believe was a legal punch with Alexander
Usik and the referee thought was a low blow. But
after the fight continued once that was you know behind you,
I guess, and he was able to go on what
what what prevented you, I guess from from exploiting what
you had done to him with that shot where you
(02:18):
were really not able to get back into the fight
after that, and then of course he went on to
get the win.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Oh you're talking about the fight still? Oh really? How
can I say? I don't think I was at my
best in that performance, you know, just everything surrounding the fight.
But you know, I'm I think I feel that I'm
a new different fight now, Oh no question. I'm a
man of the future. So that was in a past.
(02:45):
I'm a man of the future, and I need to
prove that on the night that I'm not going to
be the night I'm going to come in there and
rip them bolts off of him. This is a new me,
a new fight, and I have a job to do well.
I was going to get to that.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I mean, I thought, since you're doing a rematch, it
made sense to at least have a brief conversation about
the first flight. But as you mentioned, since then, you
have had three very significant victories. You beat the undefeated
all by knockout, by the way, the undefeated Gerald Big
Baby Miller, the undefeated Philip Perginage to get the interim delt.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, all of them.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Was that the boogey man, they called him Herkovich, So yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
And then of course for josh Joshua also, Yeah, were
you at all discouraged though after you had the loss
against Luis because it shouldn't seem like that the way
you fought those three guys I just mentioned.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
No, I mean, I don't think I show my best
in the thick fight, and you know, I'm a bro fight.
I don't want to go out like that. So you know,
I needed to show what you know, what we worked on,
you know what I've got in me, and you know,
having to wrot support around me, my dad, my team,
and you know, it was no question in my mind
(03:52):
that we had to come back again and we did that.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, what do you think as you head into the
rematch will be the biggest difference for you to the
way the first fight unfolded.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
As I'm going to win. That's it simple. I'm going
to win.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I'm going to win cleaning clinically with you know, you know, fireworks,
you know, knockouts, That's how. I'm not going to be denied,
whatever way, whatever way it goes down, I'm not going
to be denied.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
He has been a great champion in the cruiserweight division.
He became the undisputed heavyweight champion. He has three of
the belts now the lineal title. But he's also thirty
eight years old. And after the fight he had with you,
he said, two very difficult, the hard fought victories against
Tyson Fury. How much do you think that those fights
have taken out of Usak physically.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
A lot?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
You know, those wars they always do. Any fighter will
tell you that. But in my fact, I'm going to
drag out a little bit more of and whatever he's
got left, I'm going to drag it out and turn
him what they whatever they want to call it old
or whatever they want to call it, but I'm going
to drag it out of him and give him a
real fight.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, I was going to say, you are on a
great role. As we just discussed your twenties. Seven years old,
you have an eleven age eleven year age advantage on
your on your behalf. How much do you think that
your level of freshness and age plays a role in
what's gonna unfold on July nineteenth?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Massively?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Anyone will tell you, you know, you can feel good fit
and when you're training in the gym, but for your
eight year old man and still a for your eight
year old man, and you can you know, you feel
the I'll make him feel you know, the all the
injuries and all of that, whatever they want to say,
But we're gonna come out on top. I'm young, I'm fresh,
and I'm in my prim right now.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
So one of the things that people have felt that
is that there is a vulnerability with USIK is the
body shots. I mean, you believe that the body shot
did the damage in the first fight. Obviously some people
thought it was a low blow. But how much is
the body attack do you think go to play a
role for Daniel Dubois in the rematch?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Every attack really, body head just pull on him, pull
on him. I mean, as a real fighting man, I'll
just say put on him. You know we're gonna we've
worked on in the gym what we need to do
and how we're gonna execute it. But uh, yeah, we've
covered We're covering no thing. You know, we're not long
to go now, and I'm sure it's gonna be the
(06:15):
world's gonna can't wait to see it. I can't wait
to deliver it when you find him. The first time
it was in Poland.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
It's sort of on his turf because it was the
closest place they can pop Wight fight by Ukraine. Now
he's coming to London to fighting your hometown. Now, He's
been a man that's traveled his entire career. He's fought
everybody in their hometowns. But for you, though, how much
of a of a factors or for you instead of
fighting in Poland, is gonna be for you to fight
him in London.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's gonna be repeat as a AJ fight again,
repeat the same you know, the same kind of crowd
will be then, you know, we'll we'll create the same atmosphere,
the same energy and we'll just do what we have
to do to win.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, what would it mean to you, Daniel to become
the undisputed champion, you have a title presently, there hasn't
been a British undisputed champ since Lennox Lewis in nineteen
ninety nine. That would be a very historical accomplishment.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Massive, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
That's going down in history books that no one can
take it away from you. You know, to win the
world's undisputed world world title, it's a huge thing. And
also I get to Queen's exact my revenge on him,
So it's a lot a lot of everything's on the
line on this one. Everything's on the line, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
That was actually one of the things I want to
ask you is in your mind, which is like the
bigger deal. Is it the revenge of the mono a
mono or is it the history of becoming undisputed? That
would be more to you, That would mean more to you.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
All of it really, because now I'm a different fighter
from when I first fought and I had no real
title belt. I mean, I was lacking up and comer,
but I'm a world champion as well, and I feel
like I'm I'm I'm on the table now and I
need to kick him off the table and take all
the belts.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
At twenty seven. Are you even in your prime yet?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Of course I'm in of course I'm in. My problem
this is you know, when I'm fresh and and I'm
arrested for the for the fight, You'll see that. But
I'm in my prob Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
I think about when you suffered the very difficult loss
to Joe Joyce in twenty twenty. It was a major
injury with your orbit bone. Uh, suffered the first defeat.
A lot of people wrote you off at that point,
at that moment when you were at the low point.
I guess after that loss, did did you think about, like,
you know, I'm going to be back at the top,
not only at the top, but in one of the
biggest fights in boxing, fighting for the undisputed heavyweight title.
(08:36):
Or did that seem like it was a million years
or a million miles away.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Oh, there was no quitting me. I feel we're gonna
come back. We're going to show everyone. Everyone has a
lot to say when you're on, when you're down, So
that just basiced me up to say, yeah, I'm glad
that happened. You know a lot, Joe, a lot, you
know that experience. Without that, I wouldn't be whey I'm today,
So I think all of those those the pain makes
(09:01):
you stronger.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
If you do become the undisputed heavyweight champion, as I
know you're very confident that you will do. Is there
a dream fight for you? There is a lot of
names in the heavyweight division. I don't know if that
means potentially a rematch against Joshua Tyson Fury, your countryman
has decided to come out of retirement. Nobody's surprised there, Uh,
that would be a big fight. Al So, what do
you think about as far as like the biggest fight
possible if you become the undisputed.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Champet whoever once it can get that's my attitude. But
how big would you fear want to fight? You know, massive?
Wouldn't it massive? That that would be? That would take
over everything? You know that that's that's got a bit
(09:45):
the top of it, and I know you've definitely come
back for that. So yeah, boxing's in a We're in
a good place. We need to win on July, bashapoo'stick
and take them belts away.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Fury says he is coming back. And the thing I
found interesting is that they're saying that he's gonna be
fighting Alexander Usik in April in his next fight, And
I thought to myself, Yeah, I mean, how's that gonna
be if if Usak doesn't.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Be for me, he's trying to just stay away from me.
I mean, they already know I'm I'm the Jinks, the
guy that you know they don't want to fight because
you know I'm I'm not I'm that guy. So I'm
gonna they try next stay away from me and need
canna have a call with me to Camp Barn or whatever.
But you know everyone knows the miss.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Bucksimbo what I'll bring to the table. So I think
you're doing do it now?
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Well, I don't think i've ever heard Tyson Perry utter
than name Daniel Juwabi forp. I guess maybe maybe he
will if you become unders be the champ. If you do,
I'll be a huge accomplishment. I wish you the best
of luck in your in your efforts, and I appreciate
your time today.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Daniel. Good luck to you, but you're dead.
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Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!