Usyk Retains Heavyweight Titles in Ninth Round Following Low-Blow Dispute

Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his heavyweight world titles with a controversial stoppage win over Daniel Dubois in Poland, sparking fierce debate over a low blow in the fifth round.

The drama unfolded at Stadion Wroclaw on Saturday night after Dubois, in his first world title bout, struck Usyk with a body shot that sent the Ukrainian to the canvas. The punch was ruled a low blow by the referee, and Usyk was given time to recover instead of being counted out. After several minutes of recovery, Usyk regained his composure and went on to win the fight via technical knockout (TKO) in the ninth round.

Usyk, known for his exceptional speed, dominated the early rounds, with Dubois struggling to impose his power on the smaller champion. Although Dubois showed improvement in the fourth round, it was his body shot in the fifth that floored Usyk. The replay showed the punch landing on Usyk’s waistband, leading to confusion and frustration, with many arguing the blow was not low. Despite the apparent infringement, Dubois was not penalised with a point deduction, a decision that further fuelled the controversy.

The Wroclaw crowd voiced their displeasure as Usyk slowly recovered from the knockdown, but he showed resilience, returning to the fight and taking control. Even as body shots continued to trouble him, Usyk’s pace and skill allowed him to regain the upper hand. By the eighth round, Usyk had Dubois on his knees, and in the ninth, a powerful right hand sealed the victory.

“I love boxing, and I respect my opponent,” Usyk said after the fight. “But it’s boxing, not ballet.”

Dubois and his camp were furious at the decision, with trainer Don Charles loudly questioning the ruling and Dubois himself insisting, “I didn’t think that was a low blow. I thought it landed, and I’ve been cheated out of a victory.” Promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments, vowing to appeal the controversial decision and seeking a rematch, calling the call a “hometown decision.”

The dispute has cast a shadow over Usyk’s potential unification bout with WBC champion Tyson Fury, although Usyk, undeterred, declared that he was “ready” to face Fury next. The fallout from the fight looks set to continue as the controversy rages on.