Oleksandr Usyk will not move out of the heavyweight division to gain more heavyweight recognition, Frank Warren insists.
Usyk, formerly the undisputed heavyweight champion, remained undisputed in the heavyweight division when he defeated Tyson Fury last May and remains undefeated after winning a rematch with Fury last month.
The Ukrainian previously suggested that he might return to the cruiserweight division at a later date.
But Frank Warren, who promotes Daniel Dubois, the new holder of the IBF heavyweight belt, was not convinced.
“He won't. Look at his size, it's impossible,” Warren said Sky Sports.
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Daniel Dubois looks to avenge his loss to Oleksandr Usyk following his upcoming bout against Joseph Parker
Usyk hasn't boxed at heavyweight since 2018, and now he's well established in the heavyweight division. He has always weighed over 220 pounds in his last five fights.
“You just have to look at his size, it's not going to happen,” said Warren, who expects Usyk to box the winner of Dubois' Feb. 22 IBF title fight with Joseph Parker.
The most lucrative fight, Warren pointed out “for him (is) the winner of this. Big fight, big fight”.
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Watch highlights from Oleksandr Usyk's press conference where he talks about his win over Tyson Fury, facing Daniel Dubois and wanting to take a break from boxing
Warren is backing Britain's Dubois to overcome his next challenger, the in-form New Zealander Parker.
“I'll be sure after the fight. I believe in him, that's why we fought, but with these big guys anything can happen. They're big balls. They drop bombs, a couple of them,” said the promoter.
“It's not like Parker is a rookie. He's been there, done that, he's a world champion. He's on his way right now. You can see he's got the heart of a fighter in that fight with (Zhilei) Zhang. He's been on the floor twice and that fight is still gritted his teeth and passed.”
Dubois boxed Usyk in 2023 when he was stopped in nine rounds. Usyk did visit the canvas himself in that fight, but due to a low blow. He took the allotted time to recover and stood up to stop the Brit.
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Oleksandr Usyk used his superb boxing skills to defeat Tyson Fury on the scorecards to retain the world heavyweight titles
But it still convinced Warren that Dubois had the victory over the unified champion.
“I honestly still believe he would have beaten Usyk if it wasn't for what was going on in his head at that moment with the referee,” the promoter said. “All that four-minute break. He would jump on him.
“Was it a low kick? I don't think it was a low kick, some people think it was. But the bottom line is four minutes when he (Usyk) wanted to fight himself and the referee said he should more time.”
However, now, after crushing Anthony Joshua in just five rounds in September, Dubois has matured into a dangerous world champion.
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Daniel Dubois is seeking a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian's win over Tyson Fury
“90 percent is mental,” Warren said. “It took time. He's had a few hiccups along the way, but if you look at the fights he's had and what he's done – he's learned.
“He's a very young guy. He's matured mentally, which is really important. He's got the skills. He's comfortable with (coach) Don Charles, who's done a brilliant job with him and this is his time.”
Warren believes that by the end of this year, Dubois, not Usyk, will be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
“If he goes through this, and fights Usyk…” Warren said, “…I think (he will).”