Oleksandr Usyk defended his unified world heavyweight titles and ended his three-fight streak without a KO. Yet four rounds earlier, it could’ve all come crashing down with the Ukrainian writhing on the canvas in agony after what the referee deemed a low blow – Daniel Dubois and many critics believed it was a legal body shot on the belt line – sparking him into action, dramatically changing the course of a bruising, gruelling battle over nine rounds.
Legal body shot or low blow? Controversy mars Usyk-Dubois
- Dubois did far better than expected, but again fell short and this time at world championship level – as body shot was deemed an illegal low blow, after which he wasn’t able to capitalise against Usyk when hurt
- Although the fight was largely competitive for sustained periods, the three judges scorecards suggested otherwise: Stanley Christodoulou had it 78-73 (Usyk 6-2 through 8), while Leszek Jankowiak and Pawel Kardyni both scored the contest 79-72 (7-1 Usyk) at the time of the stoppage
- Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk tells me about Don Charles’ cheating comments: “Do you trust me? I was in the locker room, the inspection and you can see the sign… very transparent, you see exactly the place where the shield hit the body and it’s far below the belt unfortunately… Why do I have to comment on his implication? I don’t need to, any man can say what he thinks… we have a different point of view on what’s legal and what’s not!”
- Usyk is expected to face IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic next, or a step-aside could see Tyson Fury unification for all the marbles at heavyweight early next year – negotiations fell through this past spring
The look on their faces was unmistakable as it unfolded, this wasn’t according to script. Oleksandr Usyk down? Something must’ve been askew. Those stunned facial expressions belonged to more than 35,000-strong fans rooting for their champion.
The king, as close to home soil as he could be given the sobering backdrop of war in his native Ukraine, ready to provide another spectacle for all observers to savour.
After a predictably cagey start, packed with head-snapping jabs by the champion and some stern Daniel Dubois resistance in response – more than most expected early on – the fight suddenly and jarringly broke into bedlam early in the fifth.
The first four rounds were competitive, but swayed more in Usyk’s favour as his distance management intricacies and ability to outmanoevure Dubois in regularly landing the fight’s cleaner punches saw the Brit guilty of being outworked.
The CompuBox numbers further emphasise that – they credited him throwing 82 punches (17 landed) during the first three rounds – compared to 77 over the next two (12 connected), which without warning proved his two best rounds of the evening.
20 seconds into round five and Usyk was down after Dubois landed what appeared to be a body shot. Confusion came next: there was no hint of a point deduction and instant replay wasn’t immediately available on-screen, so we were left to wait.
Having targeted the body earlier with some success, the one punch which left Usyk gasping for air was particularly divisive depending on which angle you use to make your point. On first viewing in real-time, it looked clean.
Referee Luis Pabon very quickly signalled for a timeout and that the body punch wasn’t a knockdown, reassured Usyk he had up to five minutes’ recovery time before informing the judges ringside it was an unintentional foul.
Dubois looked on sheepishly and without complaint during this series of events – making him guilty in the court of public opinion – as the official admonished Usyk’s cornerman Russ Anber for angrily insisting Dubois’ punch was intentionally low.
Almost 90 seconds passed before Usyk rose to his feet, met by a thunderous crowd roar, and take your time was the call from a referee whose control on this contest had disappeared. Usyk was soon ready, though his corner urged him to take more time.
He wasn’t to know it at the time, but that contentious sequence only served to fire up Usyk, having complained to the official on several occasions earlier about Dubois punching low and getting Pabon involved, who gave nothing but futile warnings.
Food for thought
Had the 30-year pro Pabon not made a big mistake in precisely the one moment he couldn’t afford to? Besides indirectly allowing Usyk to dictate what was low-or-not as he saw fit, the Puerto Rican was now stuck in no man’s land: either deduct a point from Dubois, or start counting to ten and force the champion to make a decision.
He did neither, and Dubois was duly punished for failing to push the pace and swarming the champion as Usyk gathered his bearings in the final minute of R5.
Although still targeting the body, his entries were telegraphed and movement slowed as Usyk regained rhythm, catching him clean with single shots and in the sixth, backing him up against the ropes while openly exchanging at shorter distance.
That tactic played into Dubois’ favour in the seventh, as it allowed his punches more margin for error and the closer Usyk got when stepping in, the more he could look to connect on his own body attacks – like this clip:
Not moving laterally enough to avoid those single shots as they whipped across his head, Dubois’ reaction to getting hit was more pronounced now than before and his wide foot stance being used against him as Usyk sat down on his punches.
The writing was on the wall, and two knockdowns later – one in the eighth after rattling off a deceptive punch combo, another in R9 after a spiteful right-hand jab – saw the end many were expecting as Dubois didn’t beat the second ten-count.
Frustration and a burning sense of injustice
Dubois’ promoter and Queensberry boss Frank Warren repeatedly declared post-fight he will appeal the decision with the trio of sanctioning bodies involved, demanding this be changed to a no-contest and an immediate rematch ordered.
Don Charles told the assembled media afterwards that Dubois had already departed the arena: disappointed, distraught and wondering what might have been.
“When the referee came to read us our rules prior to the fight and asked if there was anything we wanted to request… we said yes, make sure Usyk’s groin guard is in the right place because I know he wears it high… in most of his fights, makes out like the opposition fighter has hit him low.
It’s a trick of his and should be stamped out. I don’t like when people cheat, there’s no two ways about it. God knows how this [defeat] will affect Daniel’s mind going forward, he and we put a lot into this.”
Dubois’ powerful body shot was borderline, but on the belt line, and the world should have a new unified heavyweight champion. Well, that’s what Warren, Charles, Dubois’ team and many more have since concluded.
Call it clever, cunning, an old man trick or anything else besides. The manner of this stoppage compounds a painful evening for those of a British persuasion, where the sport’s dark arts were exploited in ways only Usyk was allowed to employ.
Sure, he took as long as he wished to recuperate after absorbing the shot – four minutes had passed before they ultimately resumed – but it was a completely different fight afterwards, and Dubois’ big opportunity rapidly went up in flames.
Sheeraz’s stinging statement, and what’s next
British rising middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz scored four knockdowns en route to a lopsided R2 TKO finish against unbeaten Ukrainian Dmytro Mytrofanov, who quickly didn’t look like he belonged in the same ring as the 24-year-old.
After a nine-month hiatus, it was another bruising-but-impressive display while promoter Warren described him as England’s version of former five-weight world champion Tommy Hearns afterwards when asked about a Denzel Bentley showdown – one they have been mandated by the BBBofC for Bentley’s domestic 160lb title.
On what’s next, I caught up with him post-fight and our conversation went like this:
Mosope: So Hamzah, talk to me about that performance.
Where I was sitting inside the stadium, the acoustics weren’t very good and people have already come out saying well, is he [Mytrofanov] really that good? Thoughts?
Additional context: Mytrofanov (13-0-1 pre-fight) made his pro debut in 2017, he has campaigned at light-middle and middleweight.
Hamzah: On the opponent, I’d say to them [critics] listen, do your history.
I’m not going to blow my own trumpet but he’s never been knocked out, one of the most serious fighters history wise, I’m forever grateful after putting on a great performance, hopefully it’ll shut a few people up.
MO: In terms of what’s next for you, Frank [Warren] told me last week he wants to keep you busy, can we see another fight from you before the end of the year?
HS: Yeah, of course. Maybe two! I’m born to box, this is what I do, so let’s see… hopefully twice, let’s see what happens. Whenever it may be.
MO: Denzel has a fight [opponent TBC] around October time, how important is maintaining this consistency now?
HS: It’s all about consistency. Staying sharp, like I said before, on the road to reach your goal is what this is all about. Ask Frank what date he has planned for me, I’ll be there and see you then.
MO: Two more. Firstly in your division, Liam Smith vs. Chris Eubank Jr 2 this coming weekend, thoughts on that?
HS: Great fight. I thought Chris was gonna win the first one, completely and mistakenly wrote Liam off but I think he’ll do it again [Smith repeat victory], he’s the more complete fighter, a lot stronger so let’s see what happens.
MO: Next month… Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2, what about that rematch?
HS: I’m backing Joe, I like him – he’s a good guy – I’m praying he’s made the adaptations in camp so good luck to him. Just [got to sharpen up] the basics, when you fight a southpaw, perfect the basics, he’s definitely capable of doing it!
Picture source: Piotr Duszczyk, boxingphotos.pl
Videos via TNT Sports Box Office broadcast
Mo and Sports 