Usyk wins by knockout to defend four heavyweight belts
Usyk soon took control of the game, combining a variety of attacks for complete domination. CompuBox statistics show that, when the Ukrainian champion launched 359 hits, with 88 hits - a rate of 24.5%. Dubois punched 290 punches, with 47 accurate hits, only reaching a rate of 16.2%. Usyk had 206 jabs, hit the target 52 times, reaching a rate of 25.2%. While, this figure of Dubois is only 10.3%, with 13 shots on target out of a total of 126 hits. In addition, Usyk also has 36 accurate heavy blows, reaching a rate of 23.5%, compared to 34 and 20.7% of the opponent.
Usyk once knocked Dubois down in the eighth round, but it was not until the ninth round, with a forehand, that the Ukrainian boxer caused the British opponent to collapse to the floor. Dubois couldn't get up before the referee counted to 10, and as a result, Usyk secured his second consecutive WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight belts. In September 2021, he won these titles from British boxer Anthony Joshua and then won a rematch in August 2022 to defend the title.
But Usyk's victory caused great controversy. In the fifth round, Dubois hit the lower back, causing the Ukrainian champion to collapse to the floor. But referee Luis Pabon said that Dubois made a foul when he hit below the waist (low blow). Therefore, Usyk was given a five-minute break to recover and then the match resumed.
On TNT Sports, former Northern Ireland professional boxer Carl Frampton said that Usyk's pants were pulled up too high and Dubois's move was valid. According to Frampton, the referee should have counted to 10 and then Dubois became the champion.
Former super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall said that the referee's decision was controversial and would certainly be met with a backlash from Dubois.
After the match, Dubois asserted that his attack was valid and that the victory was robbed. Manager Frank Warren left the door open to appeal the referee's decision and will ask for a rematch.
For now, victory still belongs to Uysk. He increased his all-win record to 21, with 14 knockout wins and seven points. Including five victories over British opponents in the world title match, including Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew and the latest is Dubois - a boxer from Greenwich in south London.
Uysk wants to unify all four of the most prestigious heavyweight belts with WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. "I'm ready to fight Fury tomorrow," the 36-year-old boxer emphasized. "I'm ready for the next fight with Fury, but I don't know if he'll dare."
