In this week’s mailbag, we tackle a pair of rematches — Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois II and Chris Eubank Jnr-Conor Benn II – as well as whether Rolando “Rolly” Romero should be allowed in the ring.

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WE DON’T NEED OLEKSANDR USYK-DANIEL DUBOIS II

Well, this is the fight we don’t need. Fans complain about Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev going for the trilogy, but they had two close fights, while Daniel Dubois already lost to Oleksandr Usyk by stoppage. No need to see this. Usyk should fight Joseph Parker or Agit Kabayel. 

-JakeTheBoxer

Tom Ivers’ response: Oleksandr Usyk has been that dominant and successful that he has beaten all of the top dogs in his era. He is now having to go back through to remove any slight doubt surrounding the “low blow.” I think it was low, but it’s the only asterisk on an otherwise perfect record. 

Daniel Dubois is also not the same fighter he was two years ago. He has come on leaps and bounds since that defeat. He is the biggest threat to Usyk’s throne and, if I had to see the Ukrainian in with anyone, I’d pick Dubois.

DUBOIS HIMSELF, NOT THE LOW BLOW, MERITS THE USYK REMATCH

The reason for the rematch is not because of any contentious low blow. If it was low, then, keeping it 100, Usyk was kinda lucky it didn't land a touch higher. The reason for the rematch is because Dubois played the hand he was dealt and went out there and won a world title, thus fulfilling Usyk's own in-ring prediction at the end of the first fight. 

That's the reason. On a sporting level, it’s not bad at all. As others have pointed out, Dubois has improved. He wasn’t exactly a complete dud to begin with, and he seems to have a built-in redemption arc. Lest we forget, they both gave each other some difficulty. 

-JeBron Lamez

Tris Dixon’s response: I agree with you here. This DDD is different from the one who took Usyk on in Poland before. The run of victories Dubois is on has really earned him this shot. Even though I would have preferred to see him fight Parker for the right to fight Usyk, you can’t begrudge him after going 3-0 (3 KOs) against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.

I think Dubois is a much better fighter, physically and mentally, this time around. And it’s in Wembley, where he thrashed AJ – not Poland, where Usyk was hugely popular. I’m not saying Dubois wins, but also factor in Usyk having gotten older and having won two hard, close, draining fights with Tyson Fury. The odds have evened up this time around.

USYK WILL WIN THE DUBOIS REMATCH BY DECISION

Dubois is better than in the first fight, and he deserves his shot because of his champion status and the controversial low blow, which many saw as a legal punch. But Usyk in my opinion is unbeatable, such a talent we won’t see in the next years. 

I think it will be a unanimous decision, no knockout, because Dubois was taking so many shots against Filip Hrgovic and could stand them without many problems. His chin is now awesome, so I think Usyk will win by points. 

-body_sz

Owen Lewis’ response: I’m as big an Usyk admirer as you’ll find, but I couldn’t disagree more with the notion that he’s unbeatable. It wasn’t a year ago that Tyson Fury came within a single point on a single scorecard of beating Usyk in their first fight, outboxing him for four or five straight rounds along the way. Fury also had his moments in the rematch; Anthony Joshua hurt Usyk in both their fights; and like you mentioned, depending on your point of view, Daniel Dubois also proved troublesome in isolated moments. 

As a (relatively speaking) light-punching heavyweight, and given his style of upping his tempo midway through fights when he’s seemingly in trouble, Usyk has to grind for almost all his wins. He’s a fabulous fighter – for my money, the best and most accomplished active boxer in the world – but unbeatable, especially now that he’s 38 years old and has been through several hellish fights? No way.

As for your take on Dubois’ punch resistance, I do think it’s improved, but I think Usyk can still stop him. Usyk’s stoppages are rarely due to a single chin-shattering shot. He tires his foes with the fierce pace he sets, chips away at their chins with accumulated touches, and then puts away their exhausted corpse. 

The right jab with which Usyk stopped Dubois in their first fight was a beautiful, precise punch, but that wasn’t why Dubois didn’t get up – he’d been drowned by the tempo. If Usyk retains the motor and chin we’ve seen from him previously, I don’t think a similar stoppage in the championship rounds of the rematch is out of the question.

That said, since this rematch was first floated, the image floating around in my head has been Usyk lying defeated on the canvas. He’s going to start slowing down at some point, and Dubois is an enormous puncher. I think the odds of him catching Usyk with a bomb are greater than in their first fight. Let’s see!

YES TO A REMATCH OF CHRIS EUBANK JNR-CONOR BENN

This was a great fight to watch. Both fighters tried to win for the whole 12 rounds. I called it for Benn by decision because of his volume punching, but I was wrong. Eubank did much better than I expected. I didn't know he had that much left in him. I'm a fan of both fighters for sure now. Before, I was only a fan of Benn. Both of them showed a great chin. Can't wait for the rematch. 

-leftuppercutko. 

Tris Dixon’s response: I must say I’m not so keen for a rematch. 

From a sporting perspective, I’d like to see Eubank and Benn both move ahead toward new challenges in their respective weight classes. Even if they offer another war, they will be no further forward in their careers, even though they would please the masses. 

What if it’s close again? Just keep going until there’s nothing left? They both have other options, and one of Eubank’s would be retirement after that and the two-night stay in hospital. Not a bad way for him to go out.

ANY REMATCH SHOULD HAVE DIFFERENT TERMS FOR EUBANK JNR’S WEIGHT

Seeing the footage of Chris Eubank Jnr having to cut weight for that fight, it looked dangerous. And in the fight itself, he looked absolutely spent by the eighth round and was just basically running on fumes. 

It was the fact he was the bigger man in there that helped him, because Benn, with the added weight himself, looked tired and didn't have the speed he had early on, so they both just elected to stand and trade, which was better for Eubank being the naturally bigger man. 

If I'm Eubank, I'm not taking a rehydration clause in a rematch, because stuff like that is what damages your body as much as the punches you then have to take 

-Boxing2695

Owen Lewis’ response: That footage felt almost inappropriate to watch.

I recently started a column about fighters cutting weight, and in talking to Tim Bradley for the first edition I realized I had completely underestimated the draining effects of boiling down too far. I think most fighters would say that they fear a bad weight cut more than a difficult fight. 

Eubank’s days of “safely” fighting at middleweight – any discussion of safety in boxing merits an asterisk given the inescapable violence of the sport – are clearly behind him. Like you, I hope he doesn’t accept a rehydration clause for a rematch, but I also hope he never fights at 160 again.

ROLANDO ROMERO SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO FIGHT 

Rolando Romero should never be in a ring again. All you have to do is watch the ending of Romero vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to see that Romero is going to get seriously hurt. He’s entertaining outside of the ring. He’s a threat to his own life in the ring. This bout should have never been sanctioned. 

-Lefty0616

Lucas Ketelle’s response: Romero is a compelling figure in boxing. One could say his personality has granted him as many opportunities as his thunderous punches. He is the classic overachiever and proves that one elite attribute can make you a world titleholder. Romero is a real puncher. When he faltered, his flaws were evident.

Romero has been stopped in his losses to Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. The Cruz bout proved a bit shocking, as it wasn’t all that competitive up until the point of the stoppage. 

I don’t think we are at the point where Romero shouldn’t be sanctioned, but this fight will elevate the standard that he’ll be held to. Romero is a larger-than-life personality who has been muted in the buildup, leading some to question if he has it. I think he is just waiting for fight night and very confident. Sometimes maturity gets mistaken for trepidation. Romero also had some hard weight cuts, so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for this fight.

Want to be featured in the mailbag? Comment or ask a question in the comments section below. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. We also may select readers’ comments from other BoxingScene stories.