LONDON, England -- A stone's throw away from Ladbroke Grove train station sits Dale Youth ABC boxing gym. It's been eight years since the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy that claimed 72 lives and burned their old home on the first floor of a 24-story block, though fond memories and formative experiences for many continue to inspire togetherness.

Former super middleweight world champion George Groves is one of many graduates, like old rival and fellow world titleholder James DeGale, packed with stories aplenty to share.

Yet it was the prophetic words of their legendary old amateur coach, Mick Delaney, which again ring true as another former Dale Youth boxing sensation looks to make history tonight when Daniel Dubois faces Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch streamed live on DAZN PPV.

A decade prior, Delaney's talentspotting eye was fixed on a 16-year-old, 200-pound 6ft 5in giant from his gym who struggled to find suitable matchmaking and after winning in Durham at the National Youth Championships, the coach's Boxing News column aged gracefully.

"You can tell, I think, within a year if a boxer has got something special. He's very heavy-handed and a good boxer with it. It's a long way to go but if he keeps his feet on the floor and behaves himself, I think he can go as far as Anthony Joshua."

The late, great Colin Hart said similar during a column back in January 2017 and soon enough, talk of Warren's newest blue chip prospect was circulating, having sparred Joshua in the two-time former champion's Sheffield base the year prior. Having opted against extending his amateur career for the 2020 Olympic cycle, Dubois turned professional with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions at 19 after a brief stint in the senior ranks.

That said, he immersed himself in the unpaid ranks representing Dale Youth, Repton and Islington before aligning with the Hall of Fame promoter and being linked with the same Moses Itauma-shaped youngest world champion fanfare that quickly proved premature.

Dubois settled an hour east with Martin Bowers at the Peacock Gym, then had spells with Mark Tibbs and Shane McGuigan after Joe Joyce's piercing jab proved the catalyst to inflict a damaging 10th-round stoppage defeat, his first career loss, back in November 2020.

Don Charles has played an instrumental role in Dubois' resurgence and was precisely the character he needed in his corner to help empower, uplift and motivate the 27-year-old after falling short in Wroclaw two years ago. He deemed it destiny they linked up and given their backstories, showing persistence when it would've been easier to relent, perhaps.

But what made this reserved physical specimen so feared and so feared and highly-regarded in the first place?

"He could punch and had power in both hands," Delaney plainly told The Ring's Dec Taylor at a Q&A event session this week.

How do you know if someone has world championship potential?

"If he's not missing any training, within six months you can tell. DeGale and Groves both won two senior elite titles, as did Deion Jumah," Delaney replied.

DeGale and Groves both went on to become world champions, while former English cruiserweight titleholder Deion Jumah (14-1, 7 KOs) was forced to retire from the sport aged 33 in 2022 after a second detached eye retina injury.

So then, prediction time for an old friend of the gym. Delaney amusingly acknowledges his bias but nevertheless, reserves high praise for the unbeaten Ukrainian looking to rain on Britain's potential parade once again tonight.

Across the four major sanctioning bodies from world champions, their interims and existing top-10 contender rankings as of July 2025, the man with the second-lowest knockout ratio (60.87%) is the unified titleholder - having come up from the weight class directly below.

"I think Daniel will win. Usyk is the best pound-for-pound fighter I've ever seen in my life, a southpaw and backhander, but I can see Daniel knocking him out after his last three fights.

"He's coming on, confidence is sky-high, beaten everyone and on a high. Whether it's a body punch knockout or to the head, I really think he'll win."

We're less than 12 hours away from finding out what unfolds.