Daniel Dubois Cleared for Heavyweight Title Shot Against Oleksandr UsykDaniel Dubois has been clea

Daniel Dubois Cleared for Heavyweight Title Shot Against Oleksandr Usyk

Daniel Dubois has been cleared by the WBA to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight title after his medical information was fully verified. The WBA has ordered a heavyweight title consolidation bout between Dubois and unified WBA, IBF, and WBO titlist Usyk. The parties have been given a 30-day negotiation period ending on May 2.

Dubois (19-1, 18KOs) is represented by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and manager Martin Bowers. Usyk (20-0, 13KOs) is guided by Alex Krassyuk’s K2 Promotions-Ukraine and multiple-time BWAA Manager of the Year recipient Egis Klimas.

The development comes after talks between Usyk and lineal/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for an undisputed heavyweight championship clash of the 21st century fell apart. The WBA stepped in to order a hard deadline for negotiations to conclude, given its overdue title consolidation fight.

Dubois’ team petitioned to enforce the boxer’s mandatory status, at which point the WBA requested his full medical records to confirm he could compete in time to no longer hold up the process. The concern was over reports that Dubois suffered a torn ACL in his last fight against Kevin Lerena on the Fury-Chisora trilogy undercard.

The win was his first title defense of the WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight title he claimed in a sixth-round knockout of unbeaten Trevor Bryan last June in Miami. Ukraine’s Usyk holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles, all of which have mandatory challengers waiting in queue for their respective shot at the unbeaten two-division champ. The WBA has confirmed that Dubois is fit to resume his career without interruption and is next up as the WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titlist.

Usyk became a two-division titlist following his September 2021 win over Anthony Joshua in North London. The Ukrainian southpaw previously served as the undisputed cruiserweight champion before he moved up to heavyweights. Four wins have followed, including back-to-back victories over Joshua.