Oleksandr Usyk (21-0-0) knocked out Daniel Dubois (19-2-0) Saturday at Stadion Wroclaw in Poland in front of 40,000 spectators, who witnessed how Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon gave the Ukranian a five-minute recovery time over an alleged low blow.
Usyk, 36, won 48 seconds into the ninth round of the mandatory World Boxing Association (WBA) fight as his country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy cheered for him.
Oleksandr Usyk fires a mortar while visiting Ukrainian soldiers this week
Zelenskyy, 45, said through a video message prior to the bout that Usyk’s strength represents that of the Ukranian people.
Dubois, 25, had knocked down Usyk with a seemingly legitimate punch, but the referee called it a low blow and gave the Ukranian five minutes to recover.
This marks Usyk’s second defense of the WBA, IBF and WBO unified titles after taking them from Anthony Joshua in September 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oleksandr Usyk wants Tyson Fury next
Usyk, who won gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, wants to face Tyson Fury next, though Dubois’ corner will appeal the result of the loss.
Fury, 35, has an exhibition boxing match against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next month.
After the Ngannou fight, however, Usyk will likely do everything in his power to set up the fight. Fury has so far reportedly turned down a 70-30 profits splt.
It’s hard to imagine he’ll pass up the oportunity of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight king in 23 years. Joshua wants to make it happen in Saudi Arabia.
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