Sergey Lapin, who is part of the training team for unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, does not expect a recent WBA order to derail a blockbuster fight with WBC world champion Tyson Fury. The fight is currently being targeted for the first quarter of 2023.
Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO world titles, was ordered by the World Boxing Association to make a mandatory defense against Daniel Dubois, who holds the WBA’s “regular” title.
“I think that the WBA ordering Usyk to fight Daniel Dubois will not be a hindrance to the undisputed contest between Usyk and Tyson Fury, the fight we all want to see,” Lapin told Vegas Insider.
“All promoters involved are currently committed to finding out who the best is in the heavyweight division at the earliest opportunity.
“We hope nothing will get in the way of that fight happening, however, the option to fight Dubois will be a backup plan in case that fight breaks down. But Daniel Dubois is not the fight that boxing fans would like to see in 2023.”
Earlier this month, Dubois had to overcome near disaster when Kevin Lerena dropped him in the first round. Dubois got hit on the top of the head and then injured his knee while going down. Dubois would later go down two more times, without getting hit, as he was struggling to put weight the leg.
Dubois was able to turn things around by dropping and stopping Lerena in the third round.
Besides the matter with Dubois, Usyk was also ordered by the IBF to make a mandatory defense against Filip Hrgovic. However, his handlers do not expect the IBF’s order to hinder a deal being finalized with Fury.