DANIEL DUBOIS shoved Oleksandr Usyk in an early effort to get inside the brain of the unbeaten mastermind.
The 27-year-old IBF heavyweight champion again came face to face with Ukraine’s WBC, WBO and WBA boss ahead of their July 19 rematch at the national football stadium.
And, after posing for photos and staring into each other’s eyes, lashed down, forcing Usyk to step backwards into his boxing stance and security to rush in to split them up.
even faked a punch of his own, forcing Dubois to flinch, and having fans convinced the fight has already been decided.
One said: “See how Dubois flinches straight after pushing him , usyk inside 8 .”;
Another added: “That flinch after the push from Dubois is everything you need to know about the mental state of Dubois leading into this. Usyk late stoppage.”;
But ice-cool 38-year-old Usyk — who has beaten both and twice and is now preparing for a Dynamite Dan rerun — said the barge was all for the cameras.
He said: “It was all for show. It doesn’t matter. I’ve prepared 22 years for this business. I love life, and boxing is part of my life.”;
DDD made a great start to their first meeting in Poland in 2023 but was undone in the ninth round by one too many of Usyk’s pinpoint jabs.
The most controversial moment was a fifth-round beltline blow that floored Usyk
Usyk was given four minutes to recover and the break cost Dubois his focus and self-belief.
But he has rebuilt his career with a hat-trick of stunning wins, the most recent and sensational being the September knockout of Joshua at London’s Wembley Stadium
And deadeye Dubois warned his Ukrainian rival that fireworks can be expected every time they cross paths.
The Londoner said: “It’s a fight. So anytime we’re in each other’s faces, it could kick off.
“This is the fight I wanted and demanded, and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk.
“I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgment of the referee, so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city.
“I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19.
“I would like to thank my promoter, Frank Warren, for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”;
Usyk became the four-belt undisputed heavyweight ruler when he toppled Fury for the first time in May.
But infuriating boxing bureaucracy meant he lost the red IBF belt without ever having tasted defeat.
And he warned red-hot Dubois that he has just been babysitting his baby and keeping it warm for him.
The Ukrainian added: “Thank you, Daniel, for taking care of my IBF belt — but now I want it back.”;
