Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning undisputed heavyweight champion, has weighed in on the ongoing debate over who’s the better fighter between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Despite Joshua’s shocking fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois, Usyk has made it clear that he considers the British former champion to be the superior boxer.
In a recent interview with TNT Sports, the Ukrainian heavyweight champion, who has faced both Joshua and Dubois in the ring, rated Joshua higher, stating, “Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion, two-time world champion. Daniel is a young boy, yeah? But Anthony is the best boxer.”
The 37-year-old Usyk elaborated further in another conversation, saying, “You cannot compare the two guys. These are completely different types of athletes. The only thing that is in common is that they both are boxers.”
Usyk is uniquely qualified to offer such an assessment, having defeated Joshua in back-to-back bouts in 2021 and 2022. He then triumphed over Dubois in August 2023 with a knockout victory during his first heavyweight title defense, despite being knocked down by a controversial low blow.
Joshua’s recent performance against Dubois, which ended in a fifth-round knockout, stunned fans and pundits alike. Many expected the former two-time world champion to recover and deliver a stronger performance, but the match ended in disappointment for Joshua. Since then, neither fighter has returned to the ring, with a potential rematch between Joshua and Dubois falling through due to Joshua’s injury concerns. Meanwhile, Dubois was set to fight Joseph Parker but pulled out due to illness, with hopes of a future rematch with Usyk still on his radar.
On the other hand, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently revealed that the heavyweight contender has set his sights on just two possible opponents for his next fight: Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. Hearn remains optimistic about a potential showdown with Fury later this year, saying, “In my dreams, Tyson Fury will have already made his return to the ring soon, ideally in the next few months, which would allow for a fight with Joshua this year. But as you realize, there are no guarantees here. But this is the biggest fight that can only be organized.”
As the heavyweight division continues to see drama unfold, Usyk’s comments add an intriguing layer to the ongoing rivalry between Joshua, Dubois, and the rest of the division. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly awaiting what comes next for all three fighters in the ever-evolving world of heavyweight boxing.
