Dubois is not a champion he's still a contender

Dynamicpuncher · May 13, 2026

KernowWarrior said: ↑

Usyk gave up the WBO belt, so the present holder is the world champion of that sanctioning body.

Dubois beat the fighter Usyk 'ducked', well that term is bandied around if other fighters do not face their mandatory contender.
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I don't believe for a second Usyk ducked Wardley in all honesty.

Wizbit1013 · May 13, 2026

Dynamicpuncher said: ↑

Yes obviously he's officially a belt holder.

But was so was Herbie Hide for beating a 40 old Tony Tucker for a vacant belt.

So the context is do you view him as a legit belt holder for winning a vacated belt from the fighter who destroyed him twice.

It's a bit of a grey area and up for debate.
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Yeah I do

Uysk gave a belt up

Things move along

Dynamicpuncher · May 13, 2026

Wizbit1013 said: ↑

Yeah I do

Uysk gave a belt up

Things move along
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Well that's fine but I do not share the same opinion.

KernowWarrior · May 13, 2026

Dynamicpuncher said: ↑

I don't believe for a second Usyk ducked Wardley in all honesty.
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Neither do i, but he dropped the WBO belt rather than defend it against Wardley, so thats a duck in some folks vocabulary.

Wizbit1013 · May 13, 2026

Dynamicpuncher said: ↑

Well that's fine but I do not share the same opinion.
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I know, I read the thread lol

Dynamicpuncher · May 13, 2026

Wizbit1013 said: ↑

I know, I read the thread lol
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Ok then.

The Real Lance · May 13, 2026

@Dynamicpuncher , Had Wardley won, would you consider HIM a champion since he'd have no losses to Usyk?

Dynamicpuncher · May 13, 2026

The Real Lance said: ↑

@Dynamicpuncher , Had Wardley won, would you consider HIM a champion since he'd have no losses to Usyk?
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Hmm that's actually an interesting question I think honestly I would see him as a bit more of a legitimate belt holder for a few reasons.

1. He doesn't have the two 1 sided losses to Usyk as you said.

2. Usyk gave up the belt to not fight Wardley.

I think my biggest gripe is that Dubois is winning a vacated title from a fighter who won 16 out of the 16 rounds they fought not to mention stopping him twice.

So it's hard for me to overlook that even if Dubois has arguably the best resume of the current top 10 Heavyweights of the past few years outside of Usyk.

So I guess resume wise Dubois is worthy of being a belt holder.

But for me as I said it's just hard to overlook the fact Dubois is winning a vacated belt from a fighter who dominated him twice.

Kiwi Casual · May 13, 2026

jeevacation said: ↑

When did Usyk lose his championship?
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When he vacated the WBO to fight a non-boxer.

Kiwi Casual · May 13, 2026

TipNom said: ↑

Kind of but not really imo. When he first won a belt I firmly didn't consider him a proper champ of any kind. A guy Usyk beat winning a belt Usyk dropped.

This case is a bit different though. For me Wardley was a more legitimate champ even if he wasn't THE champ, just because Usyk failed to fight Parker and then Wardley. It was one thing when he dropped the belt to rematch Fury as iirc they had a two fight deal. But after beating Dubois last year Usyk showed little eagerness to fight Parker then took the rest of the year off, only to announce that he'd be fighting Verhoven this year rather than any actual contender. At that point him losing that belt was fully justified. In this era mandatories, atleast in theory, are necessary because otherwise a lot of guys will simply never give deserving contenders a chance.

Joyce never got a title shot, Zhang never got one, Hrgovic hasn't got one, Hunter never got one, Kabayel hasn't gotten one yet, Parker hasn't got one since losing his belt like 8 years ago, Dilliain Whyte arguably aged out of his prime before ever getting his WBC title shot etc. You could argue that them taking the losses they took is why they either never got a shot or took so long to get shots, but in the past taking a loss or two simply meant being moved down the pecking order, not being removed from it completely. It's why I understand Kabayel's current tactic of taking light touches until he gets a shot. Why take the risk and potentially end up at square 0 like Parker or Joyce?

In the past being a champion meant defending against hungry contenders. Now because of all the belts and people wanting to see unifications mainly, champs are given passes for not fighting deserving contenders.

It's because of this that I tend to lend more legitimacy to guys who get vacant belts because the champions don't fight them for whatever reason. It's not their fault at the end of the day, it's the champions job to defend and if they don't want to then the only thing a contender can do is try to get them stripped so they can be elevated to champion. So with Wardley I considered him a legit champion. Dubois beat him so I guess that now I have to consider Dubois a legit champion. Though I'm not as sure about this case with Dubois, as this was an underserved title shot. The guy has had 3 shots at winning belts in the last 3 years which is emblematic of a problem in the sport because the first and last shots were totally undeserved, and even the shot at unification with Usyk last year I maintain should have been Parker against Usyk with Usyk taking Dubois on later in the year. He offers the most money and is Frank Warrens pet so he can get as many opportunities to come back as needed.
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Really solid post mate. Highlights just how awful mandatories have been treated over the past few years.

Sks476 · May 13, 2026

There's only one true champion. The other titles are just gimmicks at the moment. Dubois has a case for being the best heavyweight not called Usyk.

jeevacation · May 13, 2026

Kiwi Casual said: ↑

When he vacated the WBO to fight a non-boxer.
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I said the championship not the We Blow Oceans.

Kiwi Casual · May 13, 2026

jeevacation said: ↑

I said the championship not the We Blow Oceans.
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I think you'll find it's the We Blow Oceans Championship belt thank you very much.

jeevacation · May 13, 2026

Kiwi Casual said: ↑

I think you'll find it's the We Blow Oceans Championship belt thank you very much.
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Which means less than my Gucci belt.

Kiwi Casual · May 13, 2026

jeevacation said: ↑

Which means less than my Gucci belt.
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Meant enough for Usyk to collect two of them.

Additionally, wearing Gucci isn't the flex you think it is

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Dubois is not a champion he's still a contender

Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Wizbit1013 Drama go, and don't come back Full Member

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KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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