Daniel Dubois has escalated his war of words with Oleksandr Usyk, insisting the Ukrainian was “lucky” in their first fight and will be beaten in a potential rematch later this year.
However, Usyk's camp have responded by insisting the Briton will not even beat Joseph Parker when he makes the first defense of his world heavyweight title next month.
Dubois won the IBF title when he beat Anthony Joshua in September and has been ever since called for an indisputable showdown with Usykawho holds the WBO, WBA and WBC belts.
The pair first met in a controversial fight in Poland in 2023 when Dubois floored the Ukrainian with a fifth-round body kick, which the referee ruled a low blow and subsequently gave him extra time to recover.
Usyk won by knockout, but Dubois told Sky Sports that the rematch will look very different.
“I wouldn't let it be removed next time,” he said at the Ring magazine awards.
“He got lucky last time.
“I must make it right and get my revenge. But first is Joseph Parker, all eyes are on him.”
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Usyk discusses whether he could offer Duboi a rematch
Usyk enjoyed two wins over Tyson Fury in 2024, but promoter Alex Krassyuk is not currently considering a potential rematch with Dubois.
That's because he expects Parker to wrest the IBF title from him when they fight in Riyadh on February 22.
“You never know. We have no idea (what's next),” Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
“Now is the time to relax. It's time to rest.
“Then after Dubois fights Parker, which I think Parker will win, we just don't know what's going to happen next.”
Dubois: I'm ready to defend the belt against Parker
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Adam Booth is surprised that Frank Warren has accepted Joseph Parker as Daniel Dubois' next opponent
Dubois, however, insists he can carry the momentum of his historic victory over Joshua at Wembley Stadium into next month's fight in Saudi Arabia.
And he insists he will defeat Parker, who has pulled off stunning upsets against Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder in his last two outings.
“I'm confident, I'm ready,” Dubois added.
“Everyone has to grow up, right? I'm confident, ready to fight and ready to go after him and move on.
“We're fine and I really want to keep this momentum going until we're on top.”