Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Results after controversial low blow and knockout
Re-live updates after Usyk retained the unified heavyweight titles against the Briton in Poland
Oleksandr Usyk retained the unified heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois on Saturday, in a hugely controversial fight in Poland.
Usyk dropped Dubois at the end of the eighth round and did the same in the ninth, with referee Luis Pabon waving off the bout after the second knockdown. However, many viewers felt that Dubois was denied a genuine knockout win in the fifth round. Ukrainian Usyk crumpled to the mat after a right hook to the body by Dubois, with the punch appearing to land right on the belt line. But Pabon ruled it an illegal shot, suggesting it was a low blow.
Rules dictate that a fighter is allowed five minutes to recover from such a punch, and Usyk, 36, used four of them before resuming the main event in Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena. Usyk even told Pabon that he was ready to continue, but the referee urged the southpaw to take more time.
In the following rounds, Usyk turned the screw, fighting well behind his jab and increasingly crafting combinations that troubled Dubois, 25. The Briton then hit the mat after a flurry of straight shots from Usyk at the end of the eighth round, before going down again due to a jab in the ninth. Although Dubois made it back to his feet, Pabon waved off the fight.
Re-live updates from Usyk vs Dubois and all undercard fights, below.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Usyk with some kind words to Dubois, telling him that he’s young and that this is boxing.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Oleksandr Usyk def. Daniel Dubois via ninth-round KO (1:48).
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Round 9
Dubois thumps a right hook into the body of Usyk. The Ukrainian looks to the referee for help.
Usyk backs up Dubois, who then comes out swinging. Usyk with a decent left hook, though.
Dubois with a left hook to the body. Pawing jab by Usyk now.
Hard right hook to the chest of Usyk, who comes back with a short hook.
OH! Another knockdown! A jab puts Dubois down on a knee!
He stands back up, but the referee waves it off!!
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Round 8
Usyk eats a right hand. Dubois lets go again, this time to the body.
Quickfire left cross from Usyk now. Again he starts to put together punches, as the crowd gets excited.
A right hook is off the mark from Usyk. Both fighters slip, before Usyk lands three straight punches! Down goes Dubois!!!
He beats the referee’s count, just in time for the bell!
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Round 7
Now Usyk targets the body of Dubois, who responds in kind.
Usyk with a clubbing left hook around Dubois’s guard.
Usyk starts to put together combinations now, before going after the Briton with winging hooks that miss!
Dubois with a right cross to the body, trying to deter the champion, who ends the round with a great pair of left hooks.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
I still can’t get over Round 5. Was Dubois denied a genuine body-shot KO?
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Round 6
Usyk is turning the screw now! He’s flicking out the jab with increasing frequency, and backing Dubois up to the ropes.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE
Round 5
We’re back under way. Dubois immediately goes for the body again. And again.
And AGAIN. This is the right tactic from Dubois. That earlier shot might have been legal, you know... Only Usyk knows for sure.
Dubois goes to the body with the right hand, then targets the head with his left.
Usyk gets back behind the jab. Now a hard cross by Usyk!
There are a couple of shots after the bell – one from each man.
The more you see the replay, the more it seems Dubois’s shot was legal. Has he just been robbed of a KO win?
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