THE W.A.D.E. Concept - Oleksandr Usyk DOMINATED & KO'D Daniel Dubois AGAIN.. Greatest Heavyweight EVER?!

Summary

Podcast Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: THE W.A.D.E. Concept - Oleksandr Usyk DOMINATED & KO'D Daniel Dubois AGAIN.. Greatest Heavyweight EVER?!
Release Date: July 21, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Rick Jervis delves deep into the recent heavyweight boxing bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. Released on July 21, 2025, the episode titled "THE W.A.D.E. Concept - Oleksandr Usyk DOMINATED & KO'D Daniel Dubois AGAIN.. Greatest Heavyweight EVER?!" provides an analytical and passionate exploration of Usyk's latest triumph and his burgeoning legacy in the heavyweight division.

Usyk's Dominant Victory Over Dubois

At the heart of the episode is Rick Jervis's detailed breakdown of Oleksandr Usyk's second victory over Daniel Dubois. The fight, held at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of approximately 90,000 spectators, showcased Usyk's superior skills and strategic prowess in the ring.

Key Highlights:

• Technical Superiority: Usyk's movement, timing, and distance control were emphasized as unparalleled in the current heavyweight landscape. Jervis remarks, “[Usyk] has feet and movement and timing and distance control that heavyweight maybe has never seen, at least hasn't seen for a very long time” ([02:13]).

• Strategic Execution: Usyk effectively neutralized Dubois's aggressive game plan, which aimed to overwhelm Usyk with power and chaos. Despite Dubois's attempts to corner and land heavy punches, Usyk remained composed and countered effectively. As Jervis notes, “Usyk would slip outside the right hand and club him with the left one, he dropped him” ([05:45]).

• Fight Decisiveness: The fight concluded with a decisive knockout in the fourth round, where Usyk landed a powerful left hook that sent Dubois to the canvas. Jervis points out, “Usyk has three levels of left hand or backhand that he throws... He actually caught Dubois on the chin with it” ([13:10]).

Comparative Analysis: Usyk Among Heavyweight Greats

Rick Jervis doesn't stop at reviewing the fight; he elevates the discussion by comparing Usyk to some of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history.

Comparisons Include:

• Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson: Jervis draws parallels between Usyk's footwork and speed to that of Muhammad Ali and the explosiveness of Mike Tyson. He states, "You might look to a Muhammad Ali, for example, and that would be a good matchup" ([10:30]).

• Modern Heavyweights: Usyk's ability to handle contemporaries like Tyson Fury is highlighted as a testament to his exceptional skill set. “Usyk has figured Tyson Fury out... Usyk has power in his left hand. He walked Fury into. They wanted to move more in the second fight and Usyk outboxed him” ([06:20]).

• Legacy Consideration: The discussion raises the provocative question of whether Usyk could be considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. Jervis contemplates, “Maybe he's the greatest not only of this generation, but of all time” ([14:50]).

Usyk's Skill Set and Boxing Technique

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting Usyk's technical abilities that set him apart in the heavyweight division.

Technical Strengths:

• Footwork and Movement: Usyk's agility and ability to control the ring's pace are repeatedly highlighted. “[Usyk] almost has every single skill set. He has the feet, he has the power, he has the volume, he has the accuracy” ([12:05]).

• Punch Variety and Accuracy: Usyk's versatile left hand, capable of straight punches, hooks, and an overhand "Ivan punch," is praised for its effectiveness and power. Jervis describes, “He can fight off the front foot, he can fight off the back foot, he can get stronger as the fight goes on” ([11:30]).

• Composure Under Pressure: Even when Dubois managed to land significant punches and attempted to turn the tide, Usyk remained unfazed, showcasing his mental fortitude. “He didn’t hit the ground or he didn’t wallow around. He just took it and kept fighting” ([07:15]).

Future Matchups and Heavyweight Landscape

Looking forward, Jervis speculates on potential opponents who could challenge Usyk's reign in the heavyweight division.

Potential Future Fights:

• Joseph Parker: Identified as the immediate next contender, Jervis asserts, “Next up should be Joseph Parker. Point blank, period” ([16:00]).

• Tyson Fury Trilogy: Although Tyson Fury has expressed interest in a trilogy fight on Twitter, Jervis argues it may not make sense, suggesting alternative matchups instead. “Usyk wants to fight Tyson Fury. I heard him say that name in the ring in a trilogy” ([16:40]).

• Emerging Prospects: Jervis also mentions the young prospect Moses Italma as a future challenge for Usyk, emphasizing the need for Italma to gain more experience first. “Moses Atama give him three more fights including the Dillian White fight” ([14:00]).

• Speculative Matchups: The possibility of non-traditional matches, such as an MMA bout with Jake Paul, is touched upon but deemed unlikely to impact Usyk's boxing legacy significantly. “Jake wants to fight AJ, and apparently that might actually happen sooner than we think” ([17:00]).

Usyk's Legacy and Era Consideration

A significant discussion revolves around the era in which Usyk is boxing and how it may influence his standing among the all-time greats.

Era Analysis:

• Historical Context: Jervis reflects on past heavyweight eras, particularly the 1980s and 1990s, questioning whether the current era will be remembered as illustrious. “His era of heavyweight won't be looked at as a great heavyweight era, which will penalize him” ([13:50]).

• Skill Dominance: Despite potential era limitations, Usyk's skill set is argued to surpass many legends, making him a formidable candidate for the greatest heavyweight title. “Usyk almost has every single skill set... He has the feet, he has the power, he has the volume, he has the accuracy” ([12:05]).

Conclusion: Usyk's Unassailable Position

Rick Jervis wraps up the episode by reiterating Oleksandr Usyk's unparalleled dominance in the heavyweight division and his potential to secure a lasting legacy as one of boxing's greatest.

Final Thoughts:

• Unmatched Skill and Determination: Usyk's comprehensive skill set and unyielding determination position him as a dominant force in heavyweight boxing. “When you are two times undisputed without ever losing... when you were the old man, the 38 and all this” ([15:00]).

• Future Prospects: With no immediate threats capable of dethroning him, Usyk's reign appears unchallenged for the foreseeable future. “I just don’t see anyone stopping him soon. Joseph Parker's the next guy” ([16:00]).

• Legacy Affirmation: Whether or not one agrees with the "greatest of all time" label, Usyk's consistent performances and strategic mastery in the ring undeniably solidify his place among boxing's elite. “Maybe he's the greatest not only of this generation, but of all time” ([14:50]).

Notable Quotes

• Usyk's Technical Mastery:
  “Usyk has feet and movement and timing and distance control that heavyweight maybe has never seen...” ([02:13])

• Fight Decisiveness:
  “Usyk has three levels of left hand or backhand that he throws... He actually caught Dubois on the chin with it” ([13:10])

• Future Matchups:
  “Next up should be Joseph Parker. Point blank, period” ([16:00])

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Summary:
In this episode, Rick Jervis presents a thorough and passionate analysis of Oleksandr Usyk's triumphant performance against Daniel Dubois, arguing that Usyk not only dominates the current heavyweight division but also possesses the qualities that could make him the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Through detailed fight breakdowns, comparative analysis with boxing legends, and discussions on future matchups, Jervis makes a compelling case for Usyk's unparalleled skill set and his unassailable position in the sport's history.

Transcript

[Rick Jervis]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Ian Pfaff]

I'm Ian Pfaff, the creator and host of the Uncle Chris Podcast. My Uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports. With powerful interviews and insider analysis. Our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting iHeart Women's Sports and our founding sponsors, Elf Beauty, Capital One and Novartis. Just open the free iHeart app and search I Heard Women's Sports to Listen Now.

[Dr. Lea Tritate]

If you're looking for another heavy podcast about trauma, this ain't it. This is for the ones who had to survive and still show up as brilliant, loud, soft and whole. The Unwanted Sorority is where black women, femmes and gender expansive survivors of sexual violence rewrite the rules on healing, the support and what happens after. And I'm your host and co president of this organization, Dr. Lea Tritate. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeff Perelman]

What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.

[Rick Jervis]

He said, you are a number, a New York state number and we own you.

[Jeff Perelman]

Listen to Shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Rick Jervis]

All right, so we are back on the way concept presented by the Ring magazine and Alexander Usyk just dominated Daniel Dubois. Right? The second time he's done that. And this time he did it in even better fashion. He has cleared out the heavyweight division after clearing out the cruiserweight division now three times. Undisputed once at cruiserweight, twice at heavyweight. And I'm feeling the need to say something controversial. Is it recency bias? Maybe, but it's just what I think It's a crazy statement. Here it comes. I think Oleksandr Usyk is not only an all time great, he may be the greatest heavyweight boxer ever. What do I mean? The breakdown. Let's go. So like I said, Alexander Usyk, Daniel Dubois just wrapped up today in Wembley Stadium. In front of however many 90, 000 people Dubois backyard. Usyk comes over to the UK again, gets the job done. And honestly, this time made it look easier than he did the first time. And he stopped Daniel Dubois the first fight as well. Obviously the controversy, low blow, whatever stopped him with the jab the first time, this time does it even quicker and even easier. And it was really just based on the fact that Usyk is just that good. Daniel Dubois had a good game plan. Listen, they wanted to bully Usyk. And that's all you heard all week from Dubois. He was confident he was going to create chaos, in his words. He was going to come in and wreak havoc, right? Be an unstoppable bulldozer. And he tried at points in this fight, especially early on, he tried. He tried to get Newsy's face, he tried to rough him up, he tried to land the right hand and tried to get there with the jab. The problem is Oleksandr Usyk has feet and movement and timing and distance control that heavyweight maybe has never seen, at least hasn't seen for a very long time. He put Daniel Dubois in a blender in this fight. When Dubois thought he had Usyk trapped in corners early on, Usyk would hit him with the lead hand, sting him, not just a jab to find range, but sting him with the jab. When Dubois thought the time was to throw the right hand and catch Usyk slipping, he kind of did. Usyk would slip that right hand and bang the left cross behind it and hurt Daniel Dubois in that case as well. Everything Daniel Dubois wanted to do, Usyk had an answer for. Throughout the fight, there were moments Daniel Dubois had where he was able to corner Usyk and really throw some punches that potentially could hurt him. A right hand here, there maybe a shot to the body. Ironically enough, there was another low blow or at least belt line shot. But Usyk didn't hit the ground or he didn't wallow around. He just took it and kept fighting. And Daniel Dubadis did not have an answer for Alexander Usyk in this fight. And he really just didn't have the tools for Alexander Usyk. And that's the big difference. Usyk at heavyweight is showing the real disparity. In skill at this weight class like Tyson Fury is the next best thing to him. And trust me, those two fights were close. But Usyk has figured Tyson Fury out, at least from what I saw in the first fight to the second fight. Usyk has his number. Usyk has power in his left hand. He walked Fury into. They wanted to move more in the second fight and Usyk outboxed him. He outboxed the best heavyweight, actual sized heavyweight boxer there is right now. He dealt with the two biggest power punchers with a little bit of skill at heavyweight. So he can box you when he needs to, he can sit down on his power when he needs to. And he has the total package. He had it at cruiserweight and he's brought it too heavyweight. And that's kind of been the meta. I mean, Evander Holyfield came from cruiserweight. He was undisputed there came up. So that has been the meta. Guys that are smaller, that can move, can take advantage of these slow, stagnant, stiff heavyweights. But Usyk's been able to do it in an era with Tyson Fury, who's the mover whose feet move like a cruiserweight. But he's six'9,270 U.S. looks like real cool. Hold these two losses. So he's done that. And he's taking care of the big bad wolves at heavyweight. The big punchers, the AJ's, the Dubois. After Dubois beats AJ, this to me is starting to solidify why he's one of the greatest, if not the greatest heavyweights ever. No, he's not in a heavyweight name dominant era. Right. He isn't in the era of Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield. But when you look at those matchups on paper, Usyk's skill set matches up favorably. Maybe Mike Tyson in his prime with his footwork and his speed and his explosivity can match up well with Usyk. Maybe Lennox Lewis with the big three. His jab, his right hand and his left hook could match up well, but you still got to bring your feet. You can't just reach. Because today Daniel Dubois reached and got taught what was wrong with all of that. Every time he tried to walk and kind of plot forward on Usyk and lunge out with that right hand and reaching on that front foot, overstepping, unbalanced. Usyk would slip outside the right hand and club him with the left one, he dropped him. I think it was in the fourth round with a right hook set up off the left hand. Dubois hit the canvas. And I don't even know if it was the next round. I've seen so many fights today, but one of the next exchanges they had, he caught Dubois a big time shot, right hand dropped him. Dubois got back to his feet. And then Dubois made a terrible mistake. He actually made the same mistake that Anthony Joshua made when Dubois was fighting him. Go back to the Dubois Anthony Joshua fight. Joshua started to trade when he was hurt. When you're out on your feet and you're not making decisions well, and your corners already told you you need to be aggressive and he's already dropped you once and you're not feeling like this is going your way and you're throwing freaking Hail Marys And Usyk is calm, collected, swinging that lead arm right out in front of you like it's a freaking elephant trunk. And he's fainting and he just drops that nuclear left hand on Dubois. And he even called it. It was a little different than what he normally throws. Usyk has three levels of left hand or backhand that he throws. He throws a straight backhand. He throws the backhand hook and he calls that the, I think he said the Ivan punch, the chopping overhand left that kind of goes knuckle down essentially around your guard and sticks right on the temple. He actually caught Dubois on the chin with it. The mouthpiece goes flying. And that's all she wrote. Usyk by stoppage. No debate, no controversy. Just another dominant win at heavyweight for Alexander Usyk. And the question now you have is who can beat him? Who? He's 38 years old. We just saw Manny Pacquiao at 46 years old school in the new school of lower weight class boxers. Usyk could potentially do this for two or three more years. You have Joseph Parker, who rightfully should get the next shot at heavyweight. Tyson Fury piped up on Twitter. He wants the trilogy. No one wants to see that. It doesn't make sense to give him the trilogy. It should go to Joseph Parker. You have Cabel waiting in the wings there. People think he's going to be something special, but I just look at the landscape and I see Usyk beating them all, which is why I came with the crazy take at the start of this video, which was, he might be the greatest of all time if he's not already. He's going to be by the time he retires, unless somebody like Jai Opetiah comes up. And the way Opetaia likes to trade, Usyk can probably get him. So I, I don't know. I'm making a lot of generalizations and assumptions right now. But if you look through the history of heavyweight boxing, you're not going to find as many movers, at least good footwork for the size they're at. That Usyk is. You might look to a Muhammad Ali, for example, and that would be a good matchup. Again, you look to Mike Tyson, who is a speed and explosive move, whereas Usyk is very relaxed. It's composed and the movement has a purpose, but it's not super explosive. It almost lulls you to sleep before the cobra strikes. Not Carl Fra. No reference there. Cobra. But yeah, the point is, I, again, maybe I'm being. Maybe it's recency bias, maybe I'm being a little too generous to Alexander Usyk. But when you are two times undisputed without ever losing, meaning they took your belt off you just because you didn't defend a mandatory, the guy that won it, you came back after you'd already beaten him, you beat him again and made it look easier the second time. When you were the old man, the 38 and all this. The only issue I can think of is that his era of heavyweight won't be looked at as a great heavyweight era, which will penalize him. But you'll have to go to the 90s to look at a quote, unquote, great heavyweight era. And I think that, that Usyk has the skills and the tools to beat them. You can go to the 80s, the 70s, the 60s, there's not going to be many guys that you can put on that list. And again, bring. Bring the Muhammad Ali comparisons and the Mike Tysons and the. Even the Klitschko brothers, two other great Ukrainians in their prime, or the Lennox Lewis is like, you're. You're gonna have people, the Larry Holmes, you're gonna have people that are good at what they do. But Usyk almost has every single skill set. He has the feet, he has the power, he has the volume, he has the accuracy. He can set up and deliver. He can fight off the front foot, he can fight off the back foot, he can get stronger as the fight goes on, he can start quick. There are things that make him so special that I just haven't seen at the heavier weight classes in a very long time. And I don't know if he's getting the credit he deserves because he's not the greatest talker in English, isn't his first language, and he's not very extravagant or flamboyant. But again, maybe I'm just being a bit of a recency bias merchant. Maybe it's not as big a deal as I'm making it. And maybe Usyk still has a lot left to prove. I don't see anyone stopping him soon. Joseph Parker's the next guy. Bring him in. I don't think that one goes different. Usyk wants to fight Tyson Fury. I heard him say that name in the ring in a trilogy. Bring that in, I guess. Then Jake Paul decided he was gonna pop up and do a face to face with Alexander Usyk. And then you learn on Twitter after that that it's because Jake wants to fight him in an MMA match. That might be the only thing that Usyk can't be the greatest at at this point. But I don't know anything about that. I don't know why they had Jake face off against Usyk. It was a weird look after he defends the undisputed heavyweight championship. But then again, Jake wants to fight aj, and apparently that might actually happen sooner than we think. Potentially 20, 26. I'm doing a video on that tomorrow. But the point is, I just don't know if I see Alexander Usyk losing for the foreseeable future. As long as he wants to continue being world champion, I think he will be world champion. Now you still have to fight the fights, and it's a heavyweight. One punch can change everything. Next up should be Joseph Parker. Point blank, period. It should have been him to begin with, but it's now definitely should be him. And I'll see where he goes from there. Because you have, like I said, Kabiel, you have potentially, if Fury and AJ would actually fight, like everybody in their mothers in existence want to happen in heavyweight boxing, then you would actually have a reason for Tyson Fury or AJ to get a third fight with Usyk. Because as it sits right now, there is no purpose for Usyk to do a trilogy with two guys that he already beat twice. Do we realize how insane that is? He beat everybody and then lapped the division like they were on flat tires in a NASCAR race. And one of them was Tyson Fury was supposed to have been this generation's great heavyweight. Usik was like, cool. Here's my undisputed cruiserweight belts. Don't want that anymore. I want to go up there and take his belts and Joshua's belts and Dubai's belts. I'll take them all. Thank you. He's actually incredible. And yeah, it's just insane to see that level of skill at 38. The precision, the fight was never in doubt. He took care of business. And that was a motivated Coming off a three fight win streak, Daniel Dubois and he just shut him down completely. Listen, Dubois by no means done. 27 years old, still, still so young. But I just don't know if Dubois has the skills right now. He needs to go back to work. I will say this again, controversial take maybe. I saw it on Twitter. Turk Al Shaykh is saying he wants the young prospect Moses Italma to fight Alexander us. I say that's a little too early, but in a year to a year and a half's time because number one, Italma has a fight versus Dillian White. I think he wins that fight, but you know, let's get through that. But a year to a year and a half down the line, 21, 22 year old Moses Atama give him three more fights including the Dillian White fight. Get him some tough competition, really put him against. It comes through that ladies and gentlemen, we have a fight. Because I'm not gonna lie, I would love to see Moses Atama get fast tracked, get put not in easy fights to get him a title fight, but get him in some real competitive fights. Start with Dillian White and move him from there to get him some experience and put him in a position to potentially be that person that could footwork for footwork, skill for skill, maybe be the answer to the USYK problem. But as of right now, there isn't one and I don't foresee one being the case. Even Moses the Talma, it's a long way away. Right now USYK rules the roost and maybe it's recency bias, but he might be the greatest not only of this generation, but of all time. You disagree, let me know in the comments down below. But what a, what a performance today. Domination. As he knocks out Daniel Dubois for the second time. He's running laps around the heavyweight scene. Who's going to stop him? I don't have that answer, so guess we'll find out.

[Ian Pfaff]

My Uncle Chris was a real character. A garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports. With powerful interviews and insider analysis. Our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting iHeart Women's Sports and our founding sponsors ELF Beauty, Capital One and Novartis. Just open the free iHeart app and search iHeart Women's Sports to listen now.

[Jeff Perelman]

I'm Jeff Perelman.

[Rick Jervis]

And I'm Rick Jervis. We're journalists and hosts of the podcast Finding Sexy Sweat.

[Jeff Perelman]

At an internship in 1993, we roomed with Reggie Payne, aspiring reporter and rapper.

[Rick Jervis]

Who went by Sexy Sweat a couple years ago. We set out to find him, but.

[Jeff Perelman]

In 2020, Reggie fell into a coma after police pinned him down and he never woke up.

[Rick Jervis]

But then I see my son's not moving. So we started digging and uncovered city officials bent on protecting their own.

[Jeff Perelman]

Listen to Finding Sexy Sweat on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.

[Rick Jervis]

He said, you are a number, a New York state number, and we own you.

[Jeff Perelman]

Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

This is an iHeart podcast.