Oleksandr Usyk left zero controversy on Saturday, July 19, in the rematch with Daniel Dubois, dominating the fight and scoring a sensational fifth-round knockout once again to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The Ukrainian floors Dubois initially with a stunning right hook midway through the round.
He then finishes the job moments later with a devastating left counter hook to the chin of Dubois, who cannot get back up from this one.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) was all over Dubois (22-3, 21 KO) from the start, out-boxing his younger opponent, using his superior skill, and also just fighting like a champion who was there to prove a point and end all doubts about which of them was the better fighter.
Dubois didn’t fight poorly, but he was outclassed. He was dropped in the fifth round, got up, and then was knocked clean out moments later on a monstrous left hand.
Usyk, 38, said his age is “just a start,” and only hinted at what might come next for him, having achieved as much as anyone can in the sport.
Asked what he wants to do next, Usyk replied, in typical Usyk fashion, “Nothing. It’s enough. I don’t know what’s next. I want to rest. I don’t know, I’ll go back home with my family, my wife and my children. I want to rest now.”
Pressed about who he might want to face next, he said, “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three options: Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker. I cannot say now, because I want to go back home.”
Fury, in an interview, hinted that he wants to fight Usyk again in April 2026, and Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in making that fight happen, too.
“I have to commend him, I gave everything I had,” Dubois said. “There were a few things I could have sharpened up, but take no credit from the man, and I’ll be back. … I gave my best, we’ll go back to the drawing board and come again.”
“We tried to get going. Dubois is a young champion, 27 years old, remarkable what he’s achieved to date.”
“He’ll be back from this stronger. Usyk is a great champion, a generational great. If you’re going to lose, lose to someone like that,” said Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles.
Earlier that night on the undercard bout, Nigerian-British boxer Lawrence Okolie defeated Kevin Lerena on a split decision in a 10-round heavyweight spell, with the judges scoring of 99-91, 100-90, and 100-90 to Okolie (22-1, 16 KO).
This fight proved that Okolie’s physical advantage was simply too much for Lerena to break. But this comfortable win was not one for the highlight reel.
