Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has hinted at a potential trilogy bout with British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua following his commanding five-round stoppage victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London.
The 38-year-old undisputed champion successfully defended his heavyweight titles with a dominant performance that saw Dubois hit the canvas twice in the fifth round, cementing Usyk’s position as boxing’s pound-for-pound king.
Speaking after his victory, Usyk teased fight fans about his next move, mentioning Joshua among potential opponents for what could be a blockbuster trilogy fight.
“Maybe we have three choices — Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker,” Usyk told the roaring Wembley crowd.
“Listen, I cannot say now because I want to go back home.”
The mention of Joshua will excite boxing fans, particularly given their previous encounters. Joshua previously faced Usyk twice, losing both encounters but putting up spirited performances that many believe warrant a third meeting.
From the opening bell against Dubois, Usyk took control of the contest, leaving the British challenger struggling to decipher the Ukrainian’s elusive strategy. The end came in the fifth round when Usyk landed a sharp left hook whilst Dubois was pinned against the ropes, sending him crashing to the canvas.
Although Dubois managed to beat the referee’s count, Usyk knocked him down again within moments — this time, there was no recovery from the devastating assault.
“Thirty-eight is a young guy, remember… 38 is only the start,” Usyk said after the fight.
“This is for the people, it’s for our world’s people. This is enough. Next? I don’t know. I want to rest. I want to go back home to my wife, my family.”
The victory further solidified Usyk’s reputation as the sport’s premier heavyweight after he defeated Tyson Fury twice last year — first in May to unify the heavyweight titles, then again in December — though he was later forced to relinquish one of his four belts.
For Dubois, the defeat marked a setback in his mission to rebuild his career after losing to Usyk nearly two years ago in Poland. During that first encounter, Dubois believed he had scored a legitimate knockdown in the fifth round, but the referee ruled the shot as low, allowing Usyk to recover and ultimately secure victory.
Since then, Dubois had staged an impressive comeback, securing victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic to capture a world title. He further cemented his return to form with a dominant five-round win over Joshua at the National Stadium, though a scheduled bout with Joseph Parker was postponed just days before the fight due to Dubois falling ill in Saudi Arabia.
With Joshua’s recent setbacks and Usyk’s continued dominance, a trilogy fight between the two would represent a significant opportunity for the British-Nigerian to reclaim his position at the top of the heavyweight division whilst providing Usyk with another high-profile defence of his titles.
