The former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson believes residual scars from Daniel Dubois’ first defeat by Oleksandr Usyk in 2023 played a part on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
Usyk, who previously stopped Dubois in nine rounds in Wroclaw, Poland, won in five on Saturday. Nelson – a broadcaster and pundit in retirement – also competed as a heavyweight during his long career, and has followed Usyk’s closely.
“Daniel was more successful in the first fight than he was in the second fight,” Nelson told BoxingScene.
“He did what he did in the first round. Second round he just tried to test it, what pace and what strength Daniel was coming in at, and after that it was just a matter of time. He was even beating Daniel to the jabs – straight solid jabs through the middle on the defense. He was the one that finished every argument. He made sure he was the last one that landed… “He systematically broke him apart. He made it much, much easier.”
Nelson, once a long-reigning WBO champion, is full of admiration for what Usyk has done and continues to do at the age of 38.
“Usyk is far too smart and clever,” he added. “We talk about Dubois’ power, but there’s no point being able to hit hard if there’s nothing to hit. And Usyk understands that – the art of boxing…
“Once you box Usyk once, he’s got your number. And that first time you get in with him is your best chance.”
Nelson believes Dubois’ attempt to beat Usyk in Poland was his best shot, and that the comparatively inexperienced Englishman suffered from a version of PTSD once Usyk started to land clean shots as the fight wore on.
“The reason why he didn’t do it [attack more having promised “chaos”] was instinctively he remembers the traps and the tricks Usyk had him working in the first fight, so that blessing of ignorance is actually what you need in the second fight,” he explained. “But once you know, you remember; you’re scarred by what this guy can do.
“‘I’ll not throw that shot because last time he caught me.’ ‘I’ll not throw this shot because last time he did this’, and so you start to second guess and don’t do the things you did in the first fight.
“You get triggered. And Usyk is a very clever guy. The things you can’t buy, borrow or pretend to have are experience and wisdom. And that is what Usyk has on all of them.”
