Three Heavyweight Matchups the Boxing World Must See Following Usyk’s Knockout of Dubois

On June 19th, beneath the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium, the air crackled with expectation as the Big Smoke witnessed yet another heavyweight superfight. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois returned to finish unsettled business.

In their initial clash in Poland two years ago, many thought that DDD was robbed of a knockout victory. Since then, both men have gone on to uncharted heights. Usyk racked up back-to-back victories against Tyson Fury - the second more convincing than the first - while Dubois' shocking knockout of former British golden boy Anthony Joshua gave Dubois a slice of the heavyweight championship pie.

Usyk Obliterates Dubois

Heading into the clash, online betting sites made Usyk the overwhelming favorite. The popular Bovada site had him priced as the 1.30 frontrunner, with Dubois considered a live 3.85 underdog. But what unfolded was not just another victory for the Ukrainian—it was a masterclass.

Usyk, ever the tactician, turned hype into inevitability. Each jab and sidestep added to his aura, and what began as a chess match gradually morphed into a demolition. The Ukrainian broke Dubois down with mathematical precision before detonating a crisp, unforgiving left hook in the fifth, leaving Dubois down and out. The win was emphatic, the message clear: Usyk is not just king—he's the greatest of his era.

But what happens next? Well, with the heavyweight landscape still reeling, the division is still ablaze with possibilities. Here are three blockbuster fights that should be made next.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Agit Kabayel

Usyk’s legend grows by the round. He now boasts a perfect 23-0 ledger, in addition to the whopping 335 amateur wins that led him to an Olympic gold medal in 2012. Having outclassed everyone from cruiserweight kingpins to battered behemoths at heavyweight - three of them twice over - attention turns to what's next. Boxing never sleeps, and the next wave includes perhaps his most stylistically intriguing threat—Agit Kabayel.

Why Kabayel? 25 wins, no defeats, and the WBC interim championship in hand. He has never been knocked down, never outworked, never even looked close to losing. While Joseph Parker’s three-win rampage over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole - wins that have led him to WBO mandatory status - can’t be ignored, the Kiwi represents a known equation—one Usyk would likely solve with familiar tools. Kabayel, by contrast, offers more questions than answers.

Watch Kabayel box, and you see a technician with footwork that brings back memories of a young Usyk himself. His recent dismantling of Zhilei Zhang for the interim crown was a tactical masterstroke; high output, supreme balance, and a knack for negating power with movement and inside work. Despite not being considered to be that heavy-handed, he's knocked out his last five opponents, and he appears to be unflappable under fire.

Fighting Usyk would demand the ultimate escalation of his talents. The Ukrainian's own footwork, ring IQ, and unrivaled stamina have exposed and exhausted bigger, more powerful men. But Kabayel’s ability to dictate range and tempo, to frustrate without chasing, sets up a confrontation that could be the undisputed champion's most testing.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

There are fights that fans demand until the end of time, regardless of the stakes. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is that fight. No belts required, no unifications needed: this is about pride, hearts, and the right to call yourself king of England.

For years, this collision was billed as the ultimate decider, the bout to crown the undisputed. Now, it is something rawer—an epic that would draw 90,000 to Wembley and millions more to their screens. Both men carry scars as deep as their trophies: Fury, unbeaten until his being outworked by Usyk in back-to-back fights; Joshua, a man twice knocked out in brutal fashion by Andy Ruiz Jr. and Daniel Dubois.

Fury’s nightmarish skillset—his 6’9” frame, hand speed, and uncanny reflexes—presents a nightmare for all of his opponents. However, it remains to be seen how motivated he remains with no title belt on the line. AJ, for all his flaws, has responded with humility. The old thunder remains, but it’s been sharpened by adversity, his IQ and defense forced to evolve.

Their clash is a study in contrast. Fury, the trickster, the switch-hitter, the master of psychological warfare. Joshua, the craftsman: powerful, measured, and ever-hungry for respect. Forget the belts for a night. Fury vs Joshua is about legacies settled, fates entwined, and a nation holding its breath.

Deontay Wilder vs Dave Allen

Sometimes boxing’s greatest acts are forged in the fire of comeback and resurrection. Enter Dave Allen, a man whose career arc defies expectation. Once - perhaps still - a journeyman, now a cult icon, the White Rhino's recent stunning knockout of the much-hyped Johnny Fisher catapulted him back onto center stage.

He was campaigning for a fight with Jeamie TKV for the British title, but the BBBofC has opted to go in a different direction. So, what's next? Well, Allen himself has repeatedly mentioned the once-feared name of Deontay Wilder.

For a stretch, the Bronze Bomber reigned with possibly the heaviest right hand of the century. But the square circle is unforgiving: Wilder has lost four of his last six, three by savage knockout. The veneer of invincibility is in tatters; can a lion recover his roar?

This matchup is so compelling because of its narrative whiplash. For Allen, every walk to the ring is a blue-collar miracle. He’s never ducked a challenge, weathered both physical and mental storms, and now, with unimaginable confidence, looks at Wilder and sees possibility rather than just peril.

Meanwhile, Wilder rides a rollercoaster. Each fight could be the rebirth he craves—or another step toward the exit. Still, his punch—statistically landing knockouts at a rate approaching 93%—remains a wild card. But as recent losses show, his weaknesses have become more pronounced.

A potential clash would be a money spinner for both men, especially in the UK, one that was unthinkable five years ago. Now, however, it's a genuine 50/50, and something that fight fans the world over are clamoring to see.