Usyk defeats Dubois to become undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time
The heavily anticipated fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday saw the Ukrainian seal victory with a crunching left hook to Dubois' jaw.
The undefeated southpaw retained his WBA, WBC and WBO belts, and regained the IBF belt he relinquished just over a year ago.
Speaking afterwards, 38-year-old Usyk said he had no plans to retire any time soon, naming Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Joseph Parker as possible next foes.
"I will continue boxing and I will continue training, but now I cannot say who my next opponent will be," Usyk said during the post-match press conference.
"I prepared for three and a half months. I've not seen my family, my wife. Every day I live with my team - 14 guys in one house. Now I want to go back home."
Usyk dropped Dubois twice in the fifth round, the second time with a lunging left hook midway through the round after Dubois missed with the right. The London native looked stunned and couldn't beat the count before about 90,000 spectators at Wembley.
Dubois joined British countrymen Fury and Joshua in having lost twice to Usyk, who was undisputed world champion as a cruiserweight before he moved up in weight six years ago.
27-year-old Dubois told DAZN: "I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back."
Dubois was hoping to become the first British heavyweight to hold every major belt since Lennox Lewis just over 25 years ago.
Speaking to ITV News ahead of the fight, Dubois said when he thought about Usyk, all he saw was "the guy I gotta go through, the obstacle in my way, the guy I gotta break up and take them belts from".
When asked about what he loved most about boxing, he said: "Victory, discipline and the spoils of war."
But Usyk was equally as confident when ITV News spoke to him and said "it didn't matter" that London-born Dubois was likely to be the more popular of the two among the crowd at Wembley, saying "focus just [on] the ring, it will be a great win."Their first bout happened in Wroclaw, Poland in August 2023, with Usyk controlling much of the fight.
A low blow in the fifth round remains the talking point.
Dubois's punch sent Usyk to the floor with referee Luis Pabon ruling it an illegal low blow, though Dubois's camp accused Usyk of pretending to be hurt. Usyk was given nearly four minutes to recover.
Usyk scored a knockdown late in the eighth round and ended it a round later with a straight right that dropped Dubois.
When asked by ITV News, Usyk dismissed speculation that the recovery time helped him win the match, saying "it doesn't matter".
He said the only opinion that mattered was the "opinion of my family, my wife, my team, my children, my mama."
After Saturday's fight, when Usyk was asked whether he thinks he's one of the sport's all-time greats, he answered "no".
"I don't have motivation, I have discipline. Motivation is temporary," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Tearful Red Bull F1 staff ordered to ‘smile more' after being rocked by Christian Horner axe
TEARFUL staff rocked by Red Bull chief Christian Horner's axing have been ordered to 'smile more' by their new Austrian and German bosses. Loyal workers were stunned when the British Formula One team's supremo Horner, 51, was ousted following a stellar 20-year reign. 3 Red Bull staff have been told to 'smile more' despite being upset over Christian Horner's exit Credit: AFP 3 The ace was brutally fired earlier this month in a surprise meeting Credit: AP He helped Red Bull win eight drivers' championships and six constructors' crowns. And sources told SunSport new Austrian boss Helmut Marko upset staff who gathered to meet him at the team's HQ in Milton Keynes — with some now threatening to quit. A female Red Bull worker revealed: 'It was only a day after Christian was sacked and a lot of the team were still upset when Mr Marko addressed us. 'But he just made a joke of it and told us to cheer up — he said, 'You need to smile more'. READ MORE IN F1 'I'm open-minded' Verstappen hints at plans amid rumours he'll quit Red Bull for Mercedes 'It didn't endear him to anyone as what is there to smile about?' Horner's roles as chief executive officer and team principal have been usurped by Austrian team adviser Marko, 82, and German ex-football official Oliver Mintzlaff, 49. While French engineer and motorsport exec Laurent Mekies, 48, was quickly unveiled as Horner's replacement last week. But insiders have insisted Mintzlaff and Marko are now the men in the driving seat — and revealed their first address to staff at Milton Keynes was a 'car crash'. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Mintzlaff sparked more anger when he joked about the brutal axing of senior staff including Horner, chief marketing officer Oliver Hughes and director of communications Paul Smith. Horner was summoned to London on July 9 believing he was attending a regular team meeting. Christian Horner SACKED by Red Bull F1! Shock Departure After 20 Years But he was then relieved of his duties on the spot and put on gardening leave. Hughes and Smith were called into an office and also told they were no longer part of Red Bull's future. They were escorted out of the building after having their company devices taken from them — leaving hundreds of staff with no bosses to answer to. And another staff member told SunSport: 'Mintzlaff also said, 'If you have any problems, just text your line manager'. 'Then he added, 'Oh, and if you don't have a line manager any more, just text me!' and started laughing.' Red Bull supremo Horner knew nothing of the plans to get rid of him, 18 months after he was accused of a sexting scandal which broke the heart of his Spice Girl wife Geri, 52. And the £12million-a-year chief was replaced within 24 hours by Marko and Mintzlaff, who arrived to address staff members, 90 per cent of whom are British. Emotional Red Bull insiders spoke in depth for the first time yesterday over their shock at the loss of their boss. They also laid bare the chaos that is now gripping this once all-conquering F1 team. 3 And long-standing family friends who have spoken to Horner admitted he was left stunned by his ruthless removal. One told SunSport: 'Christian told me how hurt and betrayed he felt after all that he and Geri and their family have been through over the past 18 months. 'He was cleared twice over the texting scandal but is now on gardening leave and has still been given no explanation why he's lost the job he loved. 'Red Bull's Austrian bosses have always resented the fact that so much of their F1 success was down to a team that Christian built in Britain. 'That is what lies behind this — as well as the hangover from the terrible headlines last year. 'Christian was called to a London meeting and had no idea what it was about. 'He was just told, 'You have to be there' and was dumbfounded when he was ushered into a room and effectively sacked on the spot. 'It left him totally blindsided — he thought he'd been called in to speak about another issue. 'But the staff are nearly all Brits and are fiercely loyal to him and are now talking about walking out. 'It was a targeted attack for control of the race team because Red Bull's Austrian HQ didn't like a British man running their race team. 'But now the team is in chaos — Red Bull at Milton Keynes has hit the skids.' Red Bull's Austrian-based HQ was approached for comment yesterday.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
England stars taken off pitch due to LIGHTNING strikes as match delayed by an hour
England completed their tour of the Americas by beating the USA 40-5 in Washington DC, but Steve Borthwick's players had to contend with a 40-minute delay during the first half England's rugby union stars were forced off the pitch during their clash with the USA because of lightning strikes. Steve Borthwick's side, missing key players amid the ongoing British & Irish Lions series, were continuing their tour of the Americas after two impressive wins over Argentina. Saturday marked England's first match in the USA since 2001. The fixture took place at Audi Field in Washington DC and kick-off had already been pushed back due to adverse weather conditions. Then in the first half, with England 14-0 up, lightning caused another delay lasting 40 minutes. England Rugby posted on social media: "Due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of Audi Field in Washington DC, players have been removed from the field of play." Lengthy delays were recently seen at football's Club World Cup in the USA. Chelsea and Benfica were forced to wait inside the changing rooms for nearly two hours during their match which was the sixth to be delayed due to weather conditions at the tournament. England eventually cruised to a 40-5 win, with captain George Ford making four conversions. Ford, 32, admitted that the conditions were challenging but was proud of his team-mates' efforts. "The conditions were difficult but it was a good group effort and a huge experience for the new players," the England skipper commented. Boss Borthwick handed debuts to Gabriel Oghre, Max Ojomoh, Joe Carpenter, Arthur Clark, Charlie Atkinson and Oscar Beard. The 45-year-old was full of praise for the youngsters in the circumstances. "They were challenging conditions, and with the weather break the game has lasted a long time," Borthwick said. "It's a scenario none of us have faced before - to deal with those conditions, with six new caps in the team today, was magnificent. "There are things you want to do better, yes, but I thought they were brilliant. I'm pleased with the way the players have approached all the games - all three were very different, and it's been a great experience in so many ways. Will the weather conditions negatively affect the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Have your say in the comments section. "We've had 10 new caps over three Tests and got depth developing - we can all see the physical nature of the team, which is athletic, quick, fit and the way the England team's moving." The ex-second row played last time England faced the USA across the pond. Sir Clive Woodward's team beat the hosts 48-19 in San Francisco - but Saturday was a very difference experience. "My memories were we were getting changed in the swimming pool changing room, so a leisure complex!" Borthwick laughed. "Playing here in such a unique, brilliant stadium. It's very different, which is terrific to see." England are on a run of seven successive victories, their longest winning streak since 2020 and a sign that confidence is growing after a difficult period last year. They'll take on Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at Twickenham when the autumn internationals come around.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Tyson Fury wants third fight with Oleksandr Usyk
Former WBC-belt holder Fury was at BOXPARK Wembley on Saturday afternoon but did not stick around to watch Usyk dismantle fellow British boxer Daniel Dubois in scintillating fashion at the national stadium. Usyk's brutal fifth-round stoppage of Dubois made him undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time after he initially won all the belts against Fury last May in Riyadh before he was forced to vacate his IBF title. .@usykaa knocks out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world 🌎 #UsykDubois — Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) July 19, 2025 Fury went into retirement after he tasted a second defeat to Usyk on a split decision last December but signalled his intentions to return earlier this month and served notice to the undefeated Ukrainian in the early hours of Sunday morning. During a video of Fury on a run on his Instagram, the 36-year-old 'Gypsy King' said: 'Massive shout out to Oleksandr Usyk. 'He did a fantastic performance tonight over Daniel Dubois, a good, young, game lad who came for a good tear, so congratulations to both men but Oleksandr Usyk knows there is only one man who can beat him. 'I did it twice before and the world knows it. I have been f***** good and proper. 'I took it like a man and here is me, not f****** around at some boxing match, I am out on the road running. 'I am running tonight. I came home, I did my job and I got myself back and I am the man. A post shared by FUROCITY by Tyson Fury (@furocity) 'I am the f****** spartan and no matter what anyone wants to say, I won those fights. Guaranteed, 100 per cent. There is only one man. GK (Gypsy King) all day every day. Get up!' Queensberry chief Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, acknowledged a third fight with Usyk would be 'big' but reiterated WBO mandatory Joseph Parker is next in line. 'Tyson has made it very clear to me he would love to fight at Wembley and would love do that fight. And it would be a big fight, I am quite sure of it,' Warren admitted. 'As a fan, I would like to see the Joe Parker fight. Joe deserves it, he is on a run himself similar to what Daniel was on and that is the fight that has been ordered. 'One way or another it will either happen or Joe will fight for the vacant title.'
