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Nick Parkinson
Oleksandr Usyk delivered an emotional knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in the ninth round, thrilling his Ukrainian fans in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday.
In the eighth round, Usyk scored a knockdown and ultimately finished Dubois in the ninth, successfully defending his WBA, IBF, and WBO world heavyweight titles at the Stadion Wroclaw.
However, the fight was not without controversy.
Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), fighting for the first time since last August, dominated his challenger but received a scare in the fifth round when he was dropped with a body shot. Dubois and his team believed it was a legitimate blow, but referee Luis Pabon ruled it a low blow, granting Usyk time to recover without a count.
Dubois and his team plan to appeal for a rematch, claiming that they were cheated out of victory.
“I didn’t think it was a low blow, and I’ve been cheated out of victory,” said Dubois.
Promoter Frank Warren added, “If it was a low blow, why wasn’t a point deducted from Daniel? It was a hometown decision. How can you not order a rematch based on that? We will appeal the events of this fight.”
Usyk, 36, from Crimea in Ukraine, has now won five world title fights against English boxers, including victories over Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora, Tony Bellew, and now Dubois from Greenwich in south London.
Usyk now sets his sights on another Englishman, WBC titleholder Tyson Fury, in a highly anticipated matchup to determine the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 2024.
“I’m ready tomorrow for Tyson Fury,” declared Usyk after defeating Dubois. “I’m prepared for my next fight to be against Tyson Fury, but I have no idea about his plans.”
The Ukrainian city of Wroclaw, with its significant Ukrainian population, provided a home-like setting for Usyk’s title defense, as Ukraine currently cannot host international sports events due to its conflict with Russia.
“I’m grateful for my family and the Ukrainian army,” Usyk expressed in his post-fight interview.
Usyk, who has spent time on the front line with Ukrainian soldiers, made his entrance after a video message from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was played at the stadium.
Dubois, known for his power, has shown vulnerabilities in his recent fights, including a loss to Joe Joyce in 2020 and a challenging victory over Kevin Lerena in December, where he was knocked down three times before recovering.
In Saturday’s bout, Usyk’s southpaw skills, fluid movement, and ring intelligence overwhelmed Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs), making it difficult for the challenger to mount a sustained offense in the early rounds.
Dubois landed a right uppercut to the body, but Usyk maintained control, unleashing punches with greater freedom as the rain fell at the outdoor stadium.
In the fifth round, Usyk was deemed to have been hit with a low blow by Pabon, resulting in a knockdown. After a few minutes of recovery time, Usyk resumed the fight.
In the sixth round, Dubois found some success with a left hook to the body, growing in confidence as the fight progressed.
In the seventh round, Usyk launched an aggressive assault, aiming to secure a knockout with a series of powerful left hands that left Dubois dazed.
With Dubois holding on in the eighth round, Usyk capitalized on a counter opportunity, landing several punches to the top of the head and sending the challenger to his knees. Although Dubois rose at the count of nine, the bell saved him from further punishment.
Sensing victory within reach, Usyk prevented Dubois from launching any significant attacks. Just 48 seconds into the ninth round, Usyk sealed the victory with a well-placed short, straight right that knocked Dubois down for the count.
In the undercard event in Wroclaw, Aadam Hamed, son of former world featherweight champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed, made a spectacular professional debut by stopping Vojtech Hrdy in the first round of their super lightweight bout.
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