With the apparent retirement of undefeated two-time
Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, the current holder of the WBC Heavyweight
world championship, as well as undefeated unified WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO world
champion Oleksandr Usyk heading towards a rematch with former two-time
Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua later this year, the Heavyweight division could be heading
towards a period of transition or at least a period of time that may allow some
of the top contenders an opportunity to maneuver up towards a potential world
title shot. In the case of undefeated
Heavyweight contender Trevor Bryan, he for
the moment is in a position of being on the outside, looking in. Despite his
status as a mandatory challenger per his holding an interim/regular
championship designation in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings, Bryan is
unfortunately in a position where he has to wait for either a winner to emerge
from the Usyk-Joshua rematch or perhaps wait for an opportunity to open to
fight for the WBC championship if one were to become available to him.
Under such circumstances,
a fighter in his position faces a dilemma that can be viewed as both
simple and complex depending on one’s perspective. The dilemma of whether to
sit and wait for his shot, which he has
earned and the lucrative payday that is likely to come with it or to try and
remain as active as possible by fighting other’s top contenders, but risk his mandatory challenger status by doing
so. What also should be taken into consideration are the circumstances of the
ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, which as we have seen continues and varies
depending on the circumstances of the virus depending on a given location.
Fortunately for Bryan, he has been able to make his
decision and not as of now had that decision affected by the circumstances of
the epidemic. The decision to fight on and take on all comers.
In his last two fights, Bryan scored a stoppage of former
WBC Heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverine and most recently scored a
twelve round split decision over previously unbeaten Jonathan Guidry in
January. Although Bryan had difficulty in that bout with Guidry, he did what he
had to do to maintain his number one ranking and was able to continue building
momentum.
Now, Bryan looks to continue the momentum building
process when he faces top contender Daniel Dubois on Saturday, June 11th
at the Miami Jai Alai Casino in Miami, FL in a fight that can be seen in the United
States on FITE Pay-Per-View. This figures to be an interesting fight that one could
perhaps argue is a crossroads battle.
Daniel Dubois is a power puncher who has scored knockouts
in sixteen of his seventeen career wins. The one blemish kn Dubois’ record came
when he was knocked out in ten rounds by
undefeated contender Joe Joyce in a fight where Dubois suffered a broken eye
socket.
Although Dubois has scored two knockout wins since
suffering the lone defeat in his career in November 2020, some may question
whether Dubois is ready to step up again. The story of this fight is a relatively
easy one to describe. While Trevor Bryan
is the fighter with the most of the momentum going into this fight, one might
argue he also has the most to lose in this fight per his current position in
the division
Dubois ' biggest asset is his punching power and more specifically,
when he is able to jump on opponents early in fights. Bryan meanwhile seems to
perform best when he is able to make fights be fought at a methodical pace.
With this in mind, this observer feels it is crucial that
Dubois force the fight on Bryan early, but je must not be reckless in doing so.
It is important to remember in his loss to Joe Joyce, Dubois was extended into
the tenth round in that fight amd as it progressed, his offense gradually
decreased. Dubois must pace himself in anticipation of being extended into the
middle and late rounds of this fight.
Although the two fighters are similar with regard to
height and reach at 6’4 and 6’5 and 78” and 79” respectively, Bryan’s last
fight against Jonathan Guidry was one where the shorter Guidry was able to keep
the fight competitive and was able to do so by periodically having success in
getting on the inside of Bryan’s reach.
While a similar situation may not exist in this fight due
to the similar height and reach between the two fighters, Bryan must try to control
the tempo of the fight, but must he wary of both Dubois’ power and must avoid
falling into lulls over the course of the fight, which allowed Guidry to make
up some ground during the fight. Even though the possibility of this fight
ending suddenly in favor of either fighter is very real, conventional wisdom would
suggest that Bryan will likely try to extend Dubois into the middle and late
rounds as Joe Joyce was able to accomplish.
Regardless of the label that the WBA has on this fight,
what is really at stake for both men is the chance to move up the list of potential
challengers either for the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch or if the WBC championship
does indeed become vacant, a way to
possibly maneuver themselves into a fight for a vacated world championship.
This observer should not have to explain the obvious. Tgere could be
significant opportunities for the winner of this fight and along with them plenty
of money to be made.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
Bryan vs. Dubois takes place on Saturday, June 11th
at Miami Jai Alai Casino in Miami, FL. The bout can be seen on a pay-per-view basis
in the United States on digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view
platform FITE beginning at 4PM ET/1PM PT. For more information about FITE including
schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, local start
times in your area, event availability, to order, and for instructions on how to download the FITE
app, please visit: www.FITE.TV.
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau
Denison All Rights Reserved.
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