Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight titles with a ninth-round knockout victory over Daniel Dubois, but the fight was overshadowed by a controversial low blow incident in the fifth round. Dubois landed a body shot that referee Luis Pabon ruled as below the belt, giving Usyk time to recover. Replays showed the punch appeared to land on the beltline, sparking debate among fans and pundits.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, improved to 21-0 with 14 knockouts. Dubois, who was challenging for the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts, dropped to 19-2. The Ukrainian fighter dominated the early rounds with superior footwork and combinations before stopping Dubois in the ninth.
Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, expressed frustration with the referee's decision, stating it changed the momentum of the fight. “It was a legitimate body shot,” Warren said. “Daniel had him hurt, and the referee gave him extra time to recover.”
Usyk, meanwhile, praised Dubois’ toughness but insisted the punch was low. “I felt it was below the belt,” Usyk said. “The referee made the right call. I stayed focused and got the win.”
The victory sets up a potential unification bout with Tyson Fury, who holds the WBC title. Fury has been inactive since defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, but negotiations for a showdown with Usyk are expected to intensify.
