Oleksandr Usyk regained his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world by knocking out Daniel Dubois in round five of their rematch at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian produced another clinical performance under the arch to extend his unbeaten record and once again deny Britain’s Dubois the chance to claim the sport’s biggest prize.
The fight marked the first time the two men had shared a ring since their controversial first meeting in 2023, when Usyk stopped Dubois in the ninth round after the Brit was denied a knockdown following a contentious low-blow call.
This time, there was less doubt over the outcome. The win further cements Usyk’s legacy as one of the finest fighters of his generation.
A sudden squall of heavy rain greeted the advance guard of Wembley’s 90-odd thousand.
Oleksandr Usyk (left) beat Daniel Dubois in their rematch at Wembley Stadium on Saturday
British star Dubois went down twice in the fifth round before the referee stopped the fight
By beating Dubois in his home city of London, Usyk regained his undisputed heavyweight title
The precipitation ceased long before the main event. But the first of the under-card fighters felt the spray blowing under the giant canopy.
At moments like this, and on other nights when those of us close to ringside or in the pitch level seats have been drenched, you do have to question whether this really is the best stadium in the world since it doesn’t have a complete roof.
But there was no dampening the electricity generated by the rousing English sports fans – in company with the London boys on a big Saturday night out – beneath that towering arch.
Up went the fireworks, down came the roars, in came the gladiators. Dubois bouncing out first, carrying the additional muscularity built up by a stone or so since he lost the first fight with Usyk in Poland two years and three redemptive victories ago. Presumably in a bd to amplify his natural born heavyweight bulk advantage over the former cruiserweight king.
Usyk’s entry was greeted by at least as many cheers as boos, such is the respect throughout the world for this master of boxing and the heroism of the Ukrainian people in their war with Russia.
Ring mantra insists that a good big’un beats a good little-un. Especially if the larger’un is also younger. But much of the debate swirling around this fight concerned whether Dubois has closed the class gap on Usyk in the interim.
The bookmakers doubted that. As Saturday dawned They widened the odds against Dynamite Daniel detonating a knock out blow to 9-1.
Usyk looked deadly focussed moments before the fight began in north London on Saturday
Dubois was the underdog but the Londoner had a 90,000-strong home crowd behind him
Dubois was shown on the giant screens in deep conversation with his team in his dressing room. Then on came Usyk, a devout orthodox Christian, receiving a blessing from his spiritual advisor. The growing crowd watched both clips more with interest than applause,
Everybody seemed nervous. The tension was eased by a lusty communal singing of what has become boxing’s anthem – Sweet Caroline.
More to follow.
