If Usyk falls to Dubois - What it means for his titles and future in boxing
Oleksandr Usyk will lose all belts if he is defeated by Daniel Dubois (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
On Saturday, July 19, Oleksandr Usyk will once again face British boxer Daniel Dubois in the ring this time at the legendary Wembley Stadium in London. At stake is the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion. Most bookmakers and experts are confident in the Ukrainian's victory. But what will happen if our champion loses? Here's what will happen to Usyk's titles and career in the event of a possible defeat.
What belts are at stake in the Usyk vs. Dubois rematch?
The fight between Usyk and Dubois 2 is a rematch of their first meeting in August 2023, when the Ukrainian won by technical knockout in the 9th round.
This time, the stakes are even higher, as the winner takes home all four championship belts (WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO), becoming the undisputed heavyweight world champion.
How long will the "undisputed" status last?
Regardless of the result, the holder of the four belts won't be able to remain undisputed for long. This is due to mandatory defenses.
Back in March, the WBO ordered Usyk to fight Joseph Parker next, who is the interim champion.
If the winner of the Usyk-Dubois bout refuses that fight, the belt will be vacated, and the undisputed status will automatically be lost.
If Usyk loses: What's next?
In the event of Usyk's defeat, all the belts (WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO) will go to Dubois.
This would mean the loss of the undisputed champion status and the shift of dominance in the heavyweight division to a new holder.
For the Ukrainian boxer, it would be the first loss of his professional career.
At the same time, Dubois would become the new undisputed world champion, but only for a short time, as the WBO already demands a mandatory title defense.
A loss might prompt Usyk to reassess his short-term and long-term career goals. He may focus on an immediate rematch with Dubois (if allowed by contract terms and organization rules) or take a break for recovery and reflection.
Financially, Usyk won't suffer, as the purse for the fight is reportedly record-breaking, over $130 million.
If Usyk wins a second time
In that case, Usyk will become only the second man in history (after Muhammad Ali) to become an undisputed champion twice.
But to maintain that status, he will have to arrange the next fight with Parker as soon as possible; otherwise, he will again lose one of the belts.
Where to watch the Usyk-Dubois 2 fight in Ukraine
The main event is expected to start around 11:30 PM Kyiv time, and it will be commented on by Volodymyr Kobelkov directly from the venue at Wembley Stadium.
Usyk himself has stated that after the fight with Dubois, he plans to have one final bout and then officially retire. His farewell fight is expected to take place at the end of 2025 (possibly against Parker).
Another potential opponent is Tyson Fury (to complete the historic trilogy) because the Brit has already challenged our champion.
