JEFF POWELL’S scorecard as Oleksandr Usyk holds off Daniel Dubois to retain his world heavyweight titles after Brit landed a controversial low blow in the fifth
- Usky stopped Dubois in the ninth round, but there was controversy before
- The Briton caught Usyk with a low blow, with several claiming the shot was legal
- However, the referee called it an illegal shot and Dubois ultimately lost
Oleksandr Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois in the ninth round to retain his world heavyweight titles.
However, there was drama in round five when Usky was caught by a low blow, with many suggesting the shot was legal and should have counted.
The Ukrainian was given time to recover, as the crowd cheered, before coming back to win the fight.
When Dubois went down in round nine, the referee waved the fight off after a big right hand from Usky.
The 25-year-old Briton was unable to recover and fell prey to defeat as he failed to beat the counter.
Oleksandr Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois in the ninth round to retain his world heavyweight title
There was drama in round five as Usyk was caught by a low blow that took him to the canvas
Dubois eventually fell prey to defeat and failed to beat the count after being knocked down
Here’s how Mailsport’s Jeff Powell watched every round before the fight was waved off:
Round 1
They started to level each other up – Usyk, usually a slow starter, won the first comfortably with jabs 10-9
Round 2
No cavalry charge from Dubois yet, but he was a little more offensive in the second, even though Usyk took another round 10-9
Round 3
Usyk starts slipping through the gears. 10-9
Round 4
Dubois starts reaching for his big right hand. Closer but still the championship round 10-9
Round 5
Big drama when Dubois lands very low and Usyk collapses on the canvas. Long minutes pass before he scrambles to his feet.
He will be given all the time he needs to recover. When he does, he angrily proceeds to attack. They keep trudging after the bell. 9-10
Round 6
Dubois follows the plan by going to the body, but is singled out for his problems. 10-9
Round 7
Usyk in control 10-9
Round 8
Dubo is stunned by Usyk and goes down in the closing seconds of round eight from a curious 10-8 combination
Round 9
Dubois goes down again. The job ended with a deadly straight to the right, one of which he failed to beat the counter.
USYK 79-73