Oleksandr Usyk Continues to Amaze; KOs Daniel Dubois in 5 One-Sided Rounds

Usyk Retains Lineal Title

No doubt. It was genius.

In a battle between heavyweight world champions, Oleksandr Usyk knocked out the dangerous punching Daniel Dubois once again to become undisputed heavyweight world champion on Saturday.

A classic performance.

It was brains over brawn again as Ukraine’s Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) knocked out England’s Dubois (23-3, 21 KOs) and demonstrated his prowess in front of more than 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Usyk picked up the IBF title to go along with the WBA, WBC, WBO titles and become undisputed heavyweight champion a second time. He was also formerly an undisputed cruiserweight world champion.

Going into this rematch many picked Dubois to avenge his loss to Usyk that took place two years ago in Poland. Since that loss, the 27-year-old from London had brutalized three top heavyweights including Anthony Joshua by knockout.

That improvement convinced many that Dubois would be too strong for the Ukrainian.

But Usyk had proven before that anyone he faced twice was defeated easier the second time. All that information gathered proved to be added ammunition in his rematches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

You can add Dubois to that list.

After the long introduction, Usyk quickly went to work using slight movements left and right while stabbing jabs through the guard of Dubois for the first two rounds. And at the last 30 seconds Usyk blasted counter-lefts that snapped Dubois’ head back.

Dubois worked harder in the third round with a busier attack and more pressure. On several occasions in the third round Usyk was stuck along the ropes and that allowed Dubois to score with quick shots.

The fourth round saw Dubois even busier and more willing to trade shots with Usyk. They exchanged strategically and it looked as if the British fighter was feeling more comfortable.

After back-to-back rounds of a faster tempo Dubois went to work. Both connected and then opened up with combinations simultaneously. During the fierce exchange Usyk finished with a right hook that caught Dubois above the ear. Down went the IBF champion.

He got up and looked ready for another exchange, but this time Usyk blasted a left to the jaw and down went Dubois again. He could not beat the count 1:52 of the fifth round.

Usyk was undisputed champion for a third time and walked over to talk to Dubois.

“Bro, I’m sorry. This is sports,” said Usyk to Dubois. “My people want this win.”

Dubois was brief in analyzing the loss.

“I have to commend his performance,” Dubois said. “I gave everything I had.”

Usyk proved once again that despite his smaller size and weight, a fighter with brains and technique can beat up the behemoths of the fight game.

“Thank you Jesus Christ. Thank you Virgin Maria,” said Usyk.

Promoter Frank Warren summed it up.

“He’s a modern day legend,” Warren said.

Other Bouts

British heavyweight contender Lawrence Okolie (22-1, 16 KOs) defeated South Africa’s Kevin Lerena (31-4, 15 KOs) by unanimous decision in a heavyweight fight that was expected to be much more.

Okolie used his height and weight advantage to keep the smaller southpaw Lerena on the outside. And when the South African breached the inside Okolie wrangled him continuously like a wrestler. There were no violent exchanges or knockdowns.

After 10 rounds of much of the same kind of battle all three judges scored in favor of Okolie 99-91, and 100-90 twice.

The battle between undefeated light heavyweights saw Ukraine’s Daniel Lapin (12-0, 4 Kos) narrowly defeat England’s Lewis Edmondson (11-1, 3 Kos) by majority decision after 10 back-and-forth rounds.

Edmondson won the middle rounds by taking advantage of the taller southpaw fighter Lapin’s counter-punching style. Feints and more feints kept the fight at a very slow pace. In the seventh round the referee Marcus McDonnell sparked the two fighters to actually trade punches. Lapin listened and won the last two rounds and the fight by scores of 95-95, 96-94 twice.

British heavyweight Solomon Dacres handed Ukraine’s Vladyslav Sirenko (22-1, 19 Kos) his first loss as a pro with a convincing performance. It was Dacres first fight since losing by first round knockout to David Adeleye last December.

Dacres was the busier puncher throughout with combination punches and slight movement that kept the heavy-handed Sirenko unable to connect solidly. The Ukrainian fighter did have a good eighth round with double left hooks, but seldom was able to connect with a big shot.

The three judges scored in favor of Dacres 99-91, 98-92, and 99-92.

Aadam Hamed (6-0), a welterweight, needed to work all four rounds against Argentina’s rugged Ezekiel Gregores (3-25) and win by decision. Hamed is the son of the great Naseem “Prince” Hamed and looked athletic and poised.

Lasha Guruli (2-0) looked extremely sharp in stopping James Francis (7-2) by technical knockout at the end of the fourth round in a super lightweight match. Guruli, from the Republic of Georgia, used his height and accuracy to beat down Francis and bloody the British fighter early.

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