British heavyweight boxer Daniel Dubois has been stripped of his WBA 'regular' title after his contentious defeat to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. The decision comes after Dubois' controversial low blow in the fifth round, which many argued should have been ruled a knockout.
The fight, held in Poland, saw Usyk retain his WBO, IBF, and WBA 'super' titles, but the aftermath has been dominated by debate over referee Luis Pabon's handling of the bout. Dubois' camp claimed the punch was legal, while critics accused the referee of favouring the champion.
WBA's Official Statement
The WBA confirmed Dubois' removal as 'regular' champion, stating the belt is now vacant. The organisation emphasised that their rules mandate the stripping of a title if the holder fails in a unification bout.
Dubois' Future in Question
With this setback, Dubois' path back to a world title shot becomes uncertain. Promoter Frank Warren has hinted at appealing the decision, while fans and pundits continue to dissect the legitimacy of the low-blow call.
Meanwhile, Usyk remains focused on a potential undisputed clash with Tyson Fury, though negotiations have stalled in recent months.
