Usyk knocks out Dubois in fifth to unify heavyweight boxing belts

With an emphatic fifth-round victory over Daniel Dubois in their undisputed world title fight at London’s Wembley Stadium, Oleksandr Usyk established himself as the outstanding heavyweight of his generation.

With the addition of his British opponent’s IBF belt on Saturday, Ukraine’s Usyk increased his unbeaten professional record to 24 fights, adding the WBA, WBC, and WBO champion to his collection.

Dubois was dropped early in the fifth round after Usyk had won the opening four rounds.

After one minute and 52 seconds, he was unable to beat the count with a trademark left hook, which prevented his British rival from winning the match.

Daniel Dubois is defeated by Oleksandr Usyk [Andrew Couldridge/Reuters]

After winning the ninth-round stoppage match in Krakow, Poland in 2023, where the Briton was ruled to have landed an illegal low blow in the fifth round, Usyk, 38, who is 11 years older than his opponent, defeated Dubois.

Before Saturday’s fight, Lennox Lewis, the last British boxer to win the undisputed world title, predicted that Usyk would face a significantly improved Dubois, saying: “You won’t see the same Daniel Dubois from 18 months ago.”

However, it was largely one-way traffic as their hero fought back in a brutal masterclass against local favorite Dubois after Usyk was roared into the ring by a sizable crowd of supporters, many of whom waving Ukraine’s national flag in a 90, 000 capacity crowd at Wembley, best known as the home ground of England’s national football team.

After bringing himself to his knees in a moment of celebration, Usyk declared, “Thirty-eight is a young man, remember,” in the ring. “Thirty-eight is]the] first.

“I want to thank Jesus Christ,” I want to say thank you so much to my Wembley team and team. For the people, of course.

Nothing comes next,” the message. Next, I don’t know, it’s enough. I need some rest. I want to be at peace right now, my wife, my kids. I want to take a two- or three-month break.

Britain's Daniel Dubois takes a punch from Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk — At the conclusion of the fight, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk punches British boxer Daniel Dubois [AFP].

When asked about Tyson Fury, Usyk, who has already defeated him twice in the past, replied, “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury.”

Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora might be the best choices. Joseph Parker, perhaps? I want to return home, so I’ll have to say that.

Dubois resisted entering the ring and resisted giving in, saying, “I have to commend him] Usyk for the performance. I gave everything.” I’ll be back, no matter who that man is.