Oleksandr Usyk dismantled and stopped Daniel Dubois inside five rounds to become undisputed heavyweight world champion for the second time in just over a year. The man he first beat for to secure that status, Tyson Fury, has reacted to the finish.
Usyk travelled to Wembley Stadium to face Dubois, a rematch of their 2023 contest in which he won by ninth round stoppage. He took centre ring from the off – a big statement against a puncher like ‘DDD’ – and landed with precision as the Brit struggled to find a home for his aggression.
When Dubois really attempted to push the action in the fifth round, he was knocked down for his troubles. Though he made the count and fought on, the next overhand left from the Ukrainian was devastating and secured a KO victory.
Post-fight, Usyk said that what he needed was a rest with his family. He did, however, hint that he would stick to the plan of one more fight a reeled off some heavyweight names.
“Maybe [next is] Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three options: Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot say now. I cannot say. I want to go back home.”
‘The Gypsy King,’ who suffered two points losses to Usyk last year and then announced his retirement, was quick to respond. During a late-night run, he posted a video to social media commiserating with ‘game lad’ Dubois and praising his former foe as ‘fantastic’ before again stating that he felt robbed in his own fights with the undisputed champ.
“Massive shout out to Oleksandr Usyk. A fantastic performance tonight over Daniel Dubois, a good young game lad who came for a tear up. Congratulations to both men.
“Oleksandr knows there’s only one man who can beat him. I’ve done it twice before and the world knows it. I’ve been f**ked good and proper without any vaseline on and took it like a man. Here’s me not f**king around at some boxing match. I’m out on the road running. I’m running tonight. I came home. I did my job and got myself back.
“I am the man. I am the f**king Spartan. No matter what anybody wants to say, I won those fights. Guaranteed 100%. There’s only one man. GK all day every day.”
The trilogy is not high on the list for fans, many of which would gladly see Usyk retire on this high. Boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has given the fight his backing, though, meaning it is as likely as any other.
