I was first to recognise Daniel Dubois’ potential, but he has virtually no chance of beating Usyk
FRANK WARREN — ever the optimist — has always maintained that faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and receives the impossible.
One of the world’s top promoters for more than 40 years, what he has to say demands respect.
Warren has always wholeheartedly supported his fighters through thick and thin. Those who have benefited from his unwavering loyalty make an impressive list.
Among the stars he steered from humble beginnings to world titles are Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno and Tyson Fury.
From the moment Daniel Dubois signed to challenge Oleksandr Usyk, Warren has resolutely beaten the drum on Dangerous Dan’s behalf.
He has been a lone voice in his conviction that Dubois will KO the unbeaten Ukrainian and leave Poland wearing the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight belts.
READ MORE IN SPORT
But analysing Saturday night’s fight, Dubois appears to have as much chance of winning as Sadiq Khan, London’s car-hating Mayor, has of being invited to be president of the Automobile Association.
Despite knocking out 19 of his 20 victims, compared to the vastly experienced Usyk he is still very much a novice.
Joe Joyce is the only top-ten fighter Dubois has met in a six-year pro career. That ended with him being counted out after Joe had fractured his eye socket.
Usyk, 36, is 11 years older than the powerful Londoner and started his incredible career as an amateur middleweight 17 years ago. His record would be classified as remarkable in any era.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL - BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
As an amateur he had more than 100 contests, losing just 12, and won Olympic, world and European gold medals at light-heavyweight and heavyweight.
Turning pro, he unified the cruiserweight division before joining the big boys.
Usyk is a master craftsman, as Anthony Joshua found out when he lost his three world titles to him in London and again in their return in Jeddah 12 months ago.
He is a brilliant tactician and technician — while being a southpaw makes him even more difficult to fathom out.
In 24 rounds, Joshua couldn’t get close enough to nail him with one of his power punches.
Dubois certainly isn’t going to outbox Usyk.
There’s only one way he can win — jump out at the opening bell and attempt to smash his way to glory in three or four rounds.
Dubois is as strong and hits just as hard as Joshua.
But I can’t see him succeeding where AJ failed.
There’s no doubt Usyk, a 1-9 favourite who has been out of action for a year, will still be under considerable pressure.
He will be expected to put on an outstanding performance in front of more than 40,000 fanatical Ukrainian refugees in Wroclaw.
Usyk is aware what defeat would mean to the morale of his war-ravaged country.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
As I was the first to recognise Dubois’ potential in this column before he turned pro, I would love to see him join men like Cassius Clay, Leon Spinks, James J Braddock and Buster Douglas — the no-hope underdogs who beat Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Max Baer and Mike Tyson.
But I fear Usyk will be far too clever for him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he stops Dubois in one of the later rounds.