Boxing :Usyk Reclaims Undisputed Crown

 

Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his place as one of boxing's greats by stopping Daniel Dubois in round five to become a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium to dash Dubois' dreams of being the first Briton to unify the division in the four-belt era.

Usyk, 38, put Dubois down twice in the fifth and the Londoner was unable to return to beat the count the second time round.

He also stopped Dubois in 2023 and extended his perfect record as a professional to 24 victories.

I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk told DAZN.

"Nothing is next. It's enough. Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest."

Dubois - who beat Anthony Joshua to defend his IBF title in September - tasted defeat for the third time in 25 contests as a professional, with each of those losses coming inside the distance.

Usyk reclaimed the IBF title, which was stripped from him just weeks after unifying the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts.

"I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back," Dubois told Dazn.

"I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is."

The great and good of the boxing world turned out to watch the momentous occasion, with Roy Jones Jr and Frank Bruno among those at ringside.

WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was also keeping a close eye on proceedings as he seeks a date with the champion next.

Usyk, who has called the UK his second home, was welcomed warmly after Dubois had also been cheered to the ring.

It took no time for the fight to spark into life as the Briton doubled up on his jab but it was clear Usyk wasn't going to be a sitting target. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was far too slick, ducking under the jab and punishing his rival regularly.

 

 

From BBC Sports.com