Dubois: This Puts Me In Good Position For Usyk-Joshua Winner; I Hope AJ Wins It

Daniel Dubois won’t allow anyone to tell him that belts don’t matter.

A fourth-round knockout of Trevor Bryan this past Saturday in Miami came with a secondary version of the WBA heavyweight title at stake. The belt is not regarded as a true world title but it does represent a golden ticket for London’s Dubois, now a mandatory challenger in waiting for the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua rematch later this summer.

“This puts me in a good position for the winner of that fight,” Dubois told BoxingScene.com of the idea behind waiting out a lengthy delay in getting to Bryan. “It’s going to be a good fight. Obviously, I hope that AJ wins it. I feel that’s a great fight to make.”

Ukraine’s Usyk (19-0, 13KOs) claimed the WBA “Super”/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight titles outpointing Watford, England’s Joshua (24-2, 22KOs) last September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London. The two are due to rematch this August, with Saudi Arabia targeted as the likely destination.

A straightaway title shot is hoped for but not expected, as Dubois (18-1, 17KOs) could be pressed with making a mandatory title defense of his own while waiting for a shot at the top prize.

Hughie Fury (26-3, 15KOs) and Michael Hunter II (20-1-2, 14KOs) are due to meet in a sanctioned WBA heavyweight title eliminator on July 2 at AO Arena in Manchester, England. Hunter was ranked number-two and Fury—the cousin of reigning lineal/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22KOs)—number-four by the WBA at the time of Dubois’ win over Bryan. The winner will become the mandatory to Dubois’ secondary title, though potentially not due until next spring.

That would give Dubois time to make at least one title defense at home, having called out countryman Dillian Whyte and former WBO heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker among his wish list. It also gives his team enough time to campaign for a much bigger fight.

“[The win over Bryan] gets him in the position for when this whole heavyweight thing shakes out with Joshua, Usyk and all,” Frank Warren, Dubois’ Hall of Fame promoter said of his heavyweight. “Whoever wins AJ-Usyk is also the WBA champion and will have to defend against him.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox