Oleksandr Usyk cemented his standing because the excellent heavyweight of his technology with an emphatic fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois of their undisputed world title bout at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Victory noticed Ukraine’s Usyk prolong his unbeaten skilled file to 24 fights because the WBA, WBC and WBO champion added his British opponent’s IBF belt to his assortment.
Usyk dominated the opening 4 rounds and early within the fifth he dropped Dubois to the canvas.
Moments later he completed the combat in decisive vogue after a trademark left hook left his British rival unable to beat the rely one minute and 52 seconds into the spherical.
It was the second time Usyk, at 38 some 11 years older than his opponent, had defeated Dubois following a ninth-round stoppage success in Krakow, Poland, in 2023, the place the Briton was dominated to have landed an unlawful low blow within the fifth spherical.
Lennox Lewis, the final British boxer to be undisputed world champion in 1999, forecast earlier than Saturday’s combat that Usyk would face a vastly-improved Dubois, saying: “Dubois was a child within the sport and now he is a person…You are not going to see the identical Daniel Dubois from 18 months in the past.”
However after Usyk was roared into the ring by an enormous contingent of supporters, lots of them waving Ukraine nationwide flags in a 90,000 capability crowd at Wembley, finest often called the London base of England’s nationwide soccer group, it was largely one-way site visitors as their hero carried out a ruthless masterclass in opposition to native favorite Dubois.
“38 is a younger man, keep in mind!,” Usyk informed DAZN within the ring after dropping to his knees in celebration. “38 is simply begin!
“I wish to say thanks to Jesus Christ. I wish to say thanks to my group and Wembley, thanks a lot! It is for the individuals.
“Nothing is subsequent. It is sufficient, subsequent, I do not know. I wish to relaxation. My household, my spouse, my kids, I wish to relaxation now. Two or three months, I wish to simply relaxation.”
Requested about his subsequent opponent Usyk, who has already twice overwhelmed former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, added: “Perhaps it is Tyson Fury. Perhaps we now have three selections, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Perhaps Joseph Parker. Hear, I can’t now say as a result of I wish to return residence.”
Dubois insisted he would return to the ring, saying: “I’ve to commend him (Usyk) on the efficiency, I gave every part I had. Take no credit score away from that man, I will be again.”
In the meantime promoter Frank Warren, a veteran of the British boxing scene, stated: “Usyk is a modern-day legend. In any technology he can be an incredible fighter. No complaints, the higher man received on the night time.
“It is Joe Parker’s time.”
Usyk in the meantime basked within the adulation following the newest dazzling victory of a profession that has seen him emerge as a nationwide hero in his war-torn homeland.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was among the many first to congratulate Usky on his victory.
“An undisputed champion. A legend. Considered one of our personal,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“Thanks for the energy and inspiration you give to the entire nation with each victory. Thanks for getting into every combat with Ukraine in your coronary heart.”