Oleksandr Usyk has firmly established his position as the premier heavyweight of his generation following a stunning fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois during their undisputed world title bout at London's iconic Wembley Stadium. This remarkable victory not only extended Usyk's unbeaten professional record to 24 fights but also solidified his status as the WBA, WBC, and WBO champion, as he added Dubois' IBF belt to his impressive collection.
From the outset, Usyk showcased his dominance, controlling the first four rounds of the match with precision and skill. In the early moments of the fifth round, he delivered a powerful blow that sent Dubois crashing to the canvas. Shortly thereafter, Usyk sealed the fight in definitive style with a trademark left hook, leaving his British opponent unable to rise before the referee's count at one minute and 52 seconds into the round.
This victory marked the second time Usyk, at the age of 38 and 11 years older than Dubois, triumphed over the British fighter. Their previous encounter in Krakow, Poland, in 2023 ended in a ninth-round stoppage, where Dubois was ruled to have committed an illegal low blow in the fifth round. The rematch at Wembley was highly anticipated, especially after former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis predicted a significantly improved Dubois, stating, “Dubois was a baby in the sport and now he’s a man…You’re not going to see the same Daniel Dubois from 18 months ago.”
As Usyk entered the ring, he was met with thunderous cheers from a massive crowd of 90,000 supporters, many waving the Ukrainian national flag. Wembley, renowned as the home of England's national football team, witnessed a one-sided spectacle as Usyk displayed a ruthless masterclass against the local favorite, Dubois. After the fight, Usyk dropped to his knees in celebration and expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thirty-eight is a young guy, remember. Thirty-eight is only the start. I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It’s for the people.”
When asked about his future plans, Usyk stated, “Nothing is next. It’s enough, next, I don’t know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest.” He also hinted at potential future opponents, mentioning, “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices: Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot now say because I want to go back home.”
Despite the setback, Dubois remained optimistic about his career, acknowledging Usyk’s performance and stating, “I have to commend him, Usyk, on the performance. I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I’ll be back.”
