Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin labels Daniel Dubois "a one trick pony"
Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin thinks Daniel Dubois is one-dimensional
Ahead of their July 19 showdown at Wembley Stadium, Oleksandr Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin previewed his heavyweight's undisputed showdown with Daniel Dubois, dismissing the Brit's chances and ability in brutal fashion.
Dubois was stopped by Usyk in round nine of their 2023 world title clash in Poland, but the Londoner bounced back strongly to become the IBF world heavyweight champion by defeating Anthony Joshua via an emphatic fifth-round knockout.
However, Sergey Lapin not only believes that their forthcoming rival is one-dimensional, but also that he only won against AJ because he had an off-night.
36-year-old Lapin told Norske Bettingsider, "Daniel Dubois is a good young guy with a strong punch, but that’s where it ends for him. A heavy punch is his main asset. He is a one trick pony. He’s had a couple of decent fights, I was even present at his bout against AJ, but let’s be honest, Dubois didn’t win that fight, AJ simply lost it."
Usyk defeated Dubois handily, but was floored by a low blow in an earlier round, which Frank Warren still maintains was a legitimate punch, as does Daniel and many of his fans.
"If you look at Usyk, he’s got speed, fast footwork, an incredible boxing background, and his timing speaks volumes," he continued to state his case. "Boxing is like fast chess, to win you need to read your opponent.
"And if you’ve already read him before, you know all his strengths and weaknesses. This will be a mental battle, where a big guy like Daniel with a heavy punch may start to feel trapped and will look for a way out of the ring. He’ll feel incredible pressure inside."
Usyk is expected to have one more fight, wither with Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury, two former opponents he has already beaten twice each.
Lapin revealed that there's no solid talk of stopping just yet, "There’s no reason to think about retirement now. Let’s take it step by step - this has been a long, fascinating journey, and it will end only when Usyk decides it’s time. Age doesn’t matter in that sense."
