Daniel Dubois' promoter Frank Warren says he would put his charge in the ring against Oleksandr Usyk "in a heartbeat" if Dubois can get past fellow undefeated Brit Joe Joyce on Nov. 28.
Dubois vs. Joyce is an intriguing domestic heavyweight clash that Warren has tried to set up all year, hitting repeated stumbling blocks thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, those involved gave up on the hope of getting ticket-buying fans into the arena and settled on the final Saturday of this month.
The 23-year-old defends his British and Commonwealth titles against 35-year-old Joyce (11-0, 10 KOs), with the European heavyweight championship also going to the winner at London's BT Sport Studios. However, it is world title contention that will be the more appealing immediate reward for the man who emerges with their spotless record intact.
Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs) is currently ranked the #2 contender by the WBO, behind champion Anthony Joshua and #1 ranked mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk, who outpointed Dereck Chisora on Halloween night.
And there is a likely chain of events that would lead to the winner of Dubois vs. Joyce winner battling Usyk for the WBO title in 2021, if they come to fruition.
First, if Joshua retains the belt as well as his WBA and IBF titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12, he is widely expected to target a huge all-British unification showdown with WBC titleholder Tyson Fury next.
Usyk's mandatory status would enable him to request purse bids for his title shot after Joshua-Pulev. Should the Ukrainian do so, but Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn instead set a date for a fight with Fury, the WBO will strip Joshua and order Usyk to face the #2 contender for the vacant title.
That, of course, would be Dubois if he overcomes a huge test on Nov. 28. And Warren is not only confident he will, but also fancies his chances against Usyk after what he saw last Saturday.
"He did what he had to do," Warren said of Usyk to Talksport. "He fought Derek Chisora and Derek always fights well enough to come second in big fights, that’s what he always does.
"It was a yardstick to look at, for me, as far as Usyk is concerned. Usyk was a tremendous cruiserweight, I just don’t think he’s gonna do the business at the top level at heavyweight.
"He’s not big enough and I think to myself, ‘What would’ve happened if he’d been in there with Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua?’ I would’ve put Daniel Dubois in with him ages ago.
"Daniel is ranked number two by the WBO now, Usyk is the [WBO] mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua and Anthony is talking about vacating the title, rather than fighting Usyk.
"I don’t know if he’s gonna do that, but if he does then that means Daniel will fight Usyk, providing he beats Joe Joyce on November 28. If that fight’s there, I would do that in a heartbeat."