27 August 2023 , 10:03
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Oleksandr Usyk had a witty, if slightly crude, four-word response when asked about Daniel Dubois ' power after a controversial world title defence last night in Poland.
The unified heavyweight champion was cruising against little-fancied Brit Dubois in what was as much of a homecoming as possible given the circumstances in his native Ukraine. That was until the fifth round, when the London native landed a flush shot that appeared on the border of the belt line that sent his rival crashing to the canvas.
Referee Luis Pabon, who allowed the Ukrainian a break in similar circumstances last time out against Anthony Joshua, immediately called the shot low, allowing a massive break for the champion to recover. And once he had got up from the punch, he returned to control of the fight before landing a knockdown in the eighth and then a stoppage in round nine.
Asked after the fight in the ring by Michelle Joy Phelps how he would rate Dubois' renowned punching power, Usyk responded: "No, only in my balls". Earlier in the post-fight interview, he had said "Listen, boxing is a tough sport. But I'm great, but it's boxing, I love it, in the ring I respect my opponent, it's no ballet it's boxing - a king's sport."
The win saw Usyk keep hold of his WBA, IBF and WBO belts, as well as the less prestigious IBO title, with win No.14 of 21 as a professional. The victory delighted his large contingent of his fellow Ukrainians who have resided in Poland since Russian’s invasion of their country last year.
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However, the Brit's promoter Frank Warren, who also promotes his fellow champion Tyson Fury, has called for an immediate rematch or a no contest, and will appeal the result. "He's been cheated, it hit him on the waistband," Warren said in the immediate aftermath of the fight.
"That's all he worked on in camp, to the body, we saw it as a weakness and the referee got it badly wrong. I like Usyk but that was a hometown decision. He won the fight because he was not fit to go on and they gave him a couple of minutes to recover from a legitimate shot."
After a tough scrap over the first seven, Dubois was dropped for the first time in the final 10 seconds of round eight when he was sent to the canvas with a big right hand. He managed to get back to his feet as the bell sounded but there was to be no respite for the Brit as Usyk charged in again and put him down again for the referee to wave the fight off in the ninth.