Usyk Knocks Out Dubois in Ninth After Low Blow Controversy
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Wroclaw, Poland (August 27th, 2023)– A controversial borderline punch thrown by challenger Daniel Dubois in the fifth round, ruled a low blow by referee Luis Pabon, enabled World Boxing association, World Boxing Organization, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to get a five minute rest period on the canvas. This enabled Usyk, in the main event of a 13 bout card at Stadium Wroclaw, in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday, August 26, 2023, to mount a comeback, dropping Dubois in the eighth round for a nine count, and knocking him out in the ninth round to retain his World Heavyweight titles.
Usyk, 21-0 with 14 knockouts, Oxnard, California, by way of Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine, appeared to be grimacing in pain on the canvas after the controversial borderline blow thrown by Usyk. The punch may or may not have been legal. Replays from different angles did not show clear and detailed enough Usyk’s front where either his borderline or his crouch was hit. Referee Pabon warned Dubois of a possible disqualification if he repeated another low blow, which did not occur. The Pro-Ukraine crowd in Poland helped Usyk’s cause.
The southpaw Usyk came forward with short power shots and power shot counters and jabs which worked inside. Dubois punched well and moved well. Dubois, however, who was dropped three times by Kevin Lerena in the first round of his previous bout and came back to win, was wobbled by an Usyk left in the second round. The handwriting was on the wall. Rain on the canvas outside did not appear to affect the fighters significantly. Usyk boxed patiently, winning all but one round on one scorecard and dominating the bout. Usyk did quality body shot work in close, and was calm in gradually breaking Dubois down. By the seventh round, Dubois was beginning to tire. Usyk dropped Dubois with jabs under pressure in round eight, saved by the bell after getting up after a nine count. Dubois’ hands were lowered when Usyk came over the top with a pinpoint right, dropping Dubois to the canvas where he took the count. Pabon picked up the count at four and counted out Dubois.
Dubois, 19-2 with 18 knockouts, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, probably had his best chance of trying to get Usyk out after the fifth round low blow rest period ended. He was unable to do anything with Usyk, who had been out of the ring for over a year, and looked like a crewcut moustache modern day lookalike version of the late South African World Heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee.
Usyk knew Dubois had technical skill, but had a weak chin and carefully and meticulously worked the target. Tyson Fury could be next in a world heavyweight unification bout in early 2024, provided Fury gets by former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 28, 2023, and Usyk does not opt to fight another mandatory challenger. Fury versus Ngannou does not currently appear on BoxRec, which brings to mind whether the World Boxing Council will recognize Fury’s bout with Ngannou as a titular defense or not.
Undercard Results at Stadium Wroclaw
Denis Berinchyk Win 10 Anthony Yigit, Lightweights
18-0 Ukrainian lightweight prospect Berinchyk retains WBO International Lightweight title
Hamzah Sheeraz TKO 2 Dmytro Mytrofanov, MIddleweights (0:35)
UK 18-0 WBC Silver Middleweight champion Sheeraz scores four knockdowns
Daniel Lapin TKO 6 Arno Schwartz, Light Heavyweights
8-0 Ukrainian southpaw Lapin with vacant IBO Continental Light Heavyweight title
Rafal Wolczecki TKO 3 Roberto Arriaza, Super Middleweights (2:590
12-0 Polish super middleweight prospect Wolczecki gets stoppage win near end of round
Vasile Cebotari TKO 6 Joel Julio, Welterweights
14-0 Moldova southpaw Cebotari rises, as former Columbian super welterweight WBO world title challenger Julio, age 38, 39-18 with 33 knockouts, loses 14th consecutive bout
Bryce Mills Win 6 Damian Tymosz, Welterweights
13-1 New York welterweight Bryce Mills goes distance with 11 bout Polish vet Tymosz. One judge questionably scored the bout 58-56 Mills, while the other two judges had it 60-54 Mills.
Ziyad Almaayouf Win 6 Janos Penzes, Super Lightweights
4-0 Saudi Arabian super lightweight wins. Scoring: 60-54, 59-55, 59-55 Almaayouf.
Aadam Hamed (Pro Debut) TKO 1 Vojtech Hrdy, Super Lightweights (2:09)
With no amateur bouts, pro debut for son of featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed.
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