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In a highly anticipated fight, Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his world heavyweight belts against Daniel Dubois, finishing him in the ninth round. However, the triumph was clouded by allegations that Dubois knocked Usyk out with a low blow in the fifth round, leaving him unconscious for about four minutes. Although the referee called the punch a low blow, many see it as a legal and permissible body shot.
The Highly Anticipated Clash of the Titans: Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois
Usyk opened the fight strong, controlling the distance and landing clean left hooks and right uppercuts on Dubois with his southpaw jab. The jab landed with greater force because Dubois had trouble adjusting to Usyk's angles. It was a move Usyk would not employ against boxers who are more agile than Dubois, and it took him off guard. Usyk clearly knows about Dubois' powerful blows and strength. In the fifth round, Dubois looked to hit Usyk on the waistband of his shorts with a right uppercut. The referee deemed the punch a low blow, and Usyk was given time to recover. Dubois and his team believed that the strike was legal and stated that they would file an official protest against the result. [caption id="attachment_8782" align="aligncenter" width="647"]
Dubois' blow on Usyk was counted as a low blow. | Credit: KevinQiugley[/caption]
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Dubois' controversial low blow floored Usyk for four minutes.[/caption]
Oleksandr Usyk, who had been rather calm up to the controversial hit, became increasingly heated afterwards. It was his offensive drive that sparked a spectacular second half of the fight. Despite the champion's best efforts to keep his opponent's head down with punches and straights, Dubois was able to make Usyk's fight difficult with even more bodywork.
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Usyk's right hook sends Dubois unbalanced[/caption]
In Round 8, Usyk landed the first knockout of the contest. The champion landed a devastating combination on Dubois, including a right hook and a left cross, which knocked him out. The bell rang just in time to spare Dubois from a crushing right hand in Round 9, but it was too late. At 48 seconds into the 9th round, Usyk knocked Dubois out with a short but dangerous shot and the referee counted to 10.
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Usyk knocks out Dubois at the 9th round[/caption]
The Controversial Low Blow
The fifth-round low blow has become a major subject of contention. Dubois insisted that the strike was lawful and that he should have been awarded a knockout victory. Frank Warren, Dubois's boxing promoter, has stated that they will be appealing the loss to the sanctioning organizations due to the disputed low blow. Frank Warren began some protests leading to the challenger, Dubois insisting he was cheated out of the win, and should have counted flooring Usyk as a straight knockout victory.In Dubois' outcry, he said:
https://youtu.be/NZGBwKo5vSs?si=42FkbfYW6LsDNPCg'I didn't think that was a low blow. I thought it landed and that I've been cheated out of victory. I've been cheated out of it tonight. I'll come again.'
Warren siding Dubois also added:
Meanwhile after his victory was announced, the heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk expressed his thoughts:'It wasn't a low blow. They didn't take any points off him. I like Usyk, but that was a complete home decision. He was not fit to go on and they gave him a couple of minutes to recover.
'It should be straight and it should be above board. How long did he get to recover? The governing bodies will have to look at that and order a rematch. We will appeal what's happened here.
'It's all about a legitimate punch that stopped him and he should have won.
'Everyone wants to see the unification. If Daniel had got the result then it would have been easy to do. We will see now.'
He specifically mentioned how ready he is to face the World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Champion, the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury'I feel good. I am grateful for my team, my family, my children. I love you. I'm grateful for my county and the Ukrainian army. Thank you so much.
[caption id="attachment_8777" align="aligncenter" width="682"]'I'm ready tomorrow. Listen, I'm ready. Next fight I'm ready to fight Tyson Fury. Will Tyson Fury? I have no idea. I can't wait to see my children and be back home. I've been training a long time. I'm a little bit tired.'
Oleksandr Usyk retained his world heavyweight titles.[/caption]
With this victory, Usyk has solidified himself as a top-tier boxer and opened the door for a unification battle with WBC champion Tyson Fury. Rocketparrot reported that Fury had stated his desire to fight Usyk and has declared his willingness to do it at any time and in any location.
