We all saw what happened in the first fight – and at the same time, saw very little. Because a rematch is both a continuation of a familiar story and an entirely new fight. Total transformation is impossible. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are fully developed fighters. Their core habits, strengths, and flaws are largely fixed – especially under extreme physical and mental pressure, when boxers tend to revert to their most ingrained patterns.

Usyk is a rhythm fighter. He builds pace as rounds go by, cuts angles, and forces opponents to overthink. Dubois is a physically strong aggressor, but not a constant pressure fighter. Despite his win over Joshua, his style isn’t about overwhelming offense. Instead, it’s measured pressure – a search for the right moment to land a big shot, followed by a burst of aggression.

Both will make adjustments. Since their first meeting, Usyk has been through two extremely tough fights with Tyson Fury – especially the first. And he’s older now, at 38. His body and energy reserves must be managed more carefully. Dubois, meanwhile, has grown into a more confident, persistent fighter. He’s more willing to take punches and answer with power shots. Still young, he’s also far more seasoned – and meaner – than before.

A clear advantage for Dubois. He’s only 27; Usyk is 38 – a major age gap, even for heavyweights who typically peak later. Add to that Usyk’s grueling amateur background and his back-to-back wars with Fury after facing Dubois. If he’s still fresh, it’s a testament to his discipline and resilience.

Dubois has gained vital experience since their first encounter. That stretch – wins over Miller, Hrgovic, and Joshua – is the best run of his career. He now believes in himself like never before.

Let’s look at this in two ways: overall averages and their head-to-head meeting.

Usyk averages over 600 punches per fight, with activity ramping up every round. The final three rounds are his signature – difficult for everyone from Joshua to Fury, as Usyk tends to drown opponents in the championship rounds.

Dubois throws around 150–180 punches fewer per bout, which suits his style and power-oriented approach. He’s most dangerous when he lands a big shot and swarms for the finish.

In their first fight, Dubois threw about 15–20 fewer punches per round than Usyk – but the real gap was in accuracy. Usyk landed more than twice as many punches per round. In rounds 2, 3, and 6, he doubled Dubois’ output. In all others, the difference was even greater.

Looking at the Dubois fights since then, expect him to start fast – particularly with the jab. His most active jabbing rounds came early: round 2 against Usyk (26 jabs), round 1 against Joshua (30 jabs), round 1 against Hrgovic (33 jabs). The only exception was the Miller fight, where round 6 was his jab peak (45 thrown).

Also expect body shots. Usyk defends them well, as most orthodox opponents traditionally target the midsection. But Dubois, still convinced his previous low blow was legal, has made a habit of targeting the body since.

Statistically, he’s become far more accurate there. Against Usyk, Dubois landed just 5.8% of body shots. In the next three fights: 31.8%.

One shot in particular has emerged – the body uppercut. Against Joshua: 6 thrown, 3 landed. Against Miller: 65 thrown, 20 landed. Against Usyk: 20 thrown, only 1 landed. The only fight where he landed more body hooks than uppercuts was against Hrgovic (19 hooks, 5 landed; 17 uppers, 4 landed).

Both men are coming off big wins. That’s encouraging. This isn’t a fight with a fading champion or a rising star coming off soft competition.

Dubois rebounded from his Usyk loss with a stoppage win over the previously undefeated Jarrell Miller. Then he beat Hrgovic (cut stoppage) and knocked out Joshua – who came in as a massive favorite. Now he’s not just a young fighter with potential – he’s a proven threat.

Usyk, meanwhile, accomplished everything possible – again. He became the first two-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era and the first undisputed heavyweight in 25 years. His two fights with Fury were physically and emotionally draining, but they also elevated his legacy and status as the defining heavyweight of this era.

Now, he seeks to become a three-time undisputed champion – and test himself against the new wave of heavyweights.

The conversation around Usyk’s punching power never ends. Too small, too light, not enough pop – the critiques go on. And yet, he’s conquered the heavyweight division completely.

In truth, there’s plenty of evidence that Usyk has respectable power. Dubois was knocked out in their first fight and dropped during it. Fury hit the canvas. Joshua nearly did too, especially late in their first encounter when Usyk cranked up the pace.

Usyk isn’t a one-punch KO artist, but his accuracy, timing, and volume create cumulative damage that can end fights.

Still, Dubois holds the edge here. He has some of the heaviest hands Usyk has ever faced. He brings mass, conditioning, and – now – confidence, a crucial factor for any puncher.

His knockout of Joshua stands out. No one had stopped AJ like that. Ruiz dropped him and forced a stoppage, but it looked more like exhaustion than clean disconnect. Dubois delivered a full shutdown. No one had done that before.

Despite two stoppage losses, Dubois doesn’t have a “bad chin.” His first loss came from a fractured orbital bone – Joyce broke his face. Critics slammed him for quitting, but few understand what that injury feels like.

Against Usyk, it seemed more like the pace and volume wore him down. The final jab was solid but unlikely a true finisher on its own.

As for Usyk, his chin has never been in question. He weathered heavy moments against Fury, never crumbled under Joshua’s pressure, and took Dubois’ best without issue.

But both men have endured tough fights, and those take a toll. At 38, Usyk’s durability might be tested sooner than in the past.

Usyk heads into enemy territory again – a familiar pattern since 2016. He’s fought seven world title fights in opponents’ backyards: Glowacki, Hunter, Huck, Briedis, Gassiev, Bellew, Joshua – all wins.

Wembley will be pro-Dubois. But by now, Usyk has earned enough global respect and fan admiration to not feel truly unwelcome anywhere – even in Britain.

For Usyk, this is about legacy. He’s done it all – but critics still question him. Was his opposition good enough to compare him with heavyweight legends? Did he beat them at their best?

This fight answers a different question. It’s about the new generation. Dubois is 27 and, barring injuries, could have another decade in the sport. He enters the ring believing he should’ve won last time.

Victory would make Usyk the first ever three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

For Dubois, it would mean undisputed status – and confirmation of his team’s mantra: that he is the “Kingslayer.”