OLEKSANDR Usyk is once again the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after knocking out Daniel Dubois in round five of their Wembley Stadium headliner. Usyk took the initiative from the opening bell, weathered every raindrop of a possible storm, before dropping Dubois twice and conclusively stopping him at 1-52 of the fifth.
“38 is a young guy, remember. 38 is only the start!” stated Usyk, in response to the pre-fight question marks around his supposedly advanced years.
“It’s for people, for our world people,” he added, as the crowd chanted ‘Usyk, Usyk’.
The pair first met in Poland in 2023, as Usyk mostly outboxed Dubois, forcing a stoppage in round nine. The controversial “low blow” incident added a little spice to the possibility of a rematch, stoked up further by Dubois’ improved form.
Three consecutive stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua, respectively, had increased his stock and seen momentum grow swiftly.
The Joshua win was the icing on the cake. Earning Daniel the IBF belt, increasing the heat of this Wembley return fixture with Usyk. The old southpaw master of Ukraine, seeking to hit undisputed status for a third time. Of course, the technicality of that fourth belt aside, he was the indisputable ruler in every sense already.
The pattern of the fight proved exactly that. Oleksandr Usyk used his timing, rhythm and mastery of the ring in the first two rounds. Dubois warmed up a little and had a better third round, landing some sharp right hands before Usyk put him back in his place with a left cross.
Lennox Lewis called for Dubois to throw with Usyk between rounds three and four. The Dubois jab went back into hiding in the fourth as Usyk regained his tempo, making Dubois turn on those kness and ankles. A ‘DDD’ shot drifted back into the controversial nether region, but another round four debacle was avoided as neither man made it into an issue.
Dubois opened up with heavy leather and was consequently dropped in round five as Usyk landed a chopping right hand around the temple. Dishing out punishment for every misstep, this was an artist at work. Dubois was literally paint on the canvas. The 27-year-old rose and tried to exchange, but Usyk stepped off and landed a crunching left hand to the jaw that sent the Londoner home packing, in style. It was a picture-perfect finisher.
Experienced referee Mike Griffin counted him out at 1-52 of the fifth. The unused judges were Patrick Morley, Mike Ross and Benoit Roussel. Usyk improves to 24-0 (15 KOs), while Dubois drops to 22-3 (21 KOs).
Intending to go home and rest, spend time with his family and wife, it’s surely going to be difficult for the Ukrainian to get motivated, given the fact that he has already beaten most of the names being mentioned.
A rematch with Derek Chisora, a third bout with either Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua, along with Joseph Parker. There will be no third fights with Dubois, that’s for sure. “It’s sport…” Usyk shrugged when asked to offer some words of consolation for the loser.
“I gave everything I had. A few things I could’ve sharpened up on. I’ll be back,” said a shell-shocked Dubois, whose IBF belt now sits back around the waistline of Usyk, along with the WBC, WBA and WBO. Truly a modern-day legend who could hang with the best in any era.
