Oleksandr Usyk dazzled boxing fans with a stunning performance at Wembley Stadium, stopping Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to reclaim his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion. The Ukrainian fighter captivated 90,000 spectators with his flawless technique and resilience, ensuring Dubois' aspirations of becoming the first British fighter to unify the heavyweight division in the four-belt era fell short.
Usyk, at 38 years old, extended his impeccable professional record to 24 victories — a feat unmatched by many in the sport. "I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk stated post-fight on DAZN. He expressed a desire to take a break after the match, stating, "Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest."
Dubois, who claimed the IBF title by defeating Anthony Joshua earlier, suffered his third loss in 25 matches, all of which have come through knockouts. Despite the defeat, Dubois acknowledged Usyk's superior performance: "I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back."
As Usyk celebrated his success, he reclaimed his IBF title, stripped from him shortly after he unified the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC belts. The heavyweight landscape now presents Usyk with several potential challengers, including Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, and Joseph Parker, all eyeing a shot at the champion.
Roy Jones Jr. and Frank Bruno witnessed the historic fight from ringside, joining other boxing legends as they saw Usyk display an impressive counter-strategy against Dubois. The bout sparked to life quickly; Dubois appeared aggressive with his jab but struggled to land significant blows as Usyk deftly avoided attacks while countering effectively.
By the fifth round, Usyk was in command, flooring Dubois with a precise right hand to the temple. Dubois fought valiantly to regain his footing, but as Usyk unleashed a finishing left hook, his corner threw in the towel just as the referee began to count.
Dubois faces another journey of rebuilding after this setback, having yet to defeat a reigning champion in his career. However, promising matchups with interim champions such as Agit Kabayel and Kubrat Pulev, as well as a potential clash with Deontay Wilder, remain on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Usyk stands firmly at the pinnacle of the heavyweight hierarchy, with prominent names awaiting their chance to dethrone him. "Maybe it's Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices: Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker," Usyk remarked, hinting at the thrilling possibilities in his path forward. With the heavyweight division buzzing, the future is bright for Usyk and scintillating for boxing fans worldwide.
Usyk, at 38 years old, extended his impeccable professional record to 24 victories — a feat unmatched by many in the sport. "I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk stated post-fight on DAZN. He expressed a desire to take a break after the match, stating, "Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest."
Dubois, who claimed the IBF title by defeating Anthony Joshua earlier, suffered his third loss in 25 matches, all of which have come through knockouts. Despite the defeat, Dubois acknowledged Usyk's superior performance: "I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back."
As Usyk celebrated his success, he reclaimed his IBF title, stripped from him shortly after he unified the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC belts. The heavyweight landscape now presents Usyk with several potential challengers, including Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, and Joseph Parker, all eyeing a shot at the champion.
Roy Jones Jr. and Frank Bruno witnessed the historic fight from ringside, joining other boxing legends as they saw Usyk display an impressive counter-strategy against Dubois. The bout sparked to life quickly; Dubois appeared aggressive with his jab but struggled to land significant blows as Usyk deftly avoided attacks while countering effectively.
By the fifth round, Usyk was in command, flooring Dubois with a precise right hand to the temple. Dubois fought valiantly to regain his footing, but as Usyk unleashed a finishing left hook, his corner threw in the towel just as the referee began to count.
Dubois faces another journey of rebuilding after this setback, having yet to defeat a reigning champion in his career. However, promising matchups with interim champions such as Agit Kabayel and Kubrat Pulev, as well as a potential clash with Deontay Wilder, remain on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Usyk stands firmly at the pinnacle of the heavyweight hierarchy, with prominent names awaiting their chance to dethrone him. "Maybe it's Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices: Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker," Usyk remarked, hinting at the thrilling possibilities in his path forward. With the heavyweight division buzzing, the future is bright for Usyk and scintillating for boxing fans worldwide.
