Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois: ‘Distraught’ Briton’s team to lobby for rematch or no contest
Reporters waited within the press room of Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena, however a distraught Daniel Dubois was a no present, opting to head straight again to the lodge.
On one other day, with one other referee, the 25-year-old Briton could have strutted in as the brand new heavyweight champion of the world, parading three shiny belts.
Heading into the lion’s den in opposition to champion Oleksandr Usyk, with 40,000 followers jeering his each transfer, Dubois had been written off by just about everybody.
The time period ‘underdog’ didn’t fairly do it justice. He was given nothing greater than a puncher’s probability. But that punch got here within the fifth spherical when Dubois landed a ferocious proper hook to the physique, sending Ukrainian Usyk to the canvas.
The shot was controversially declared a low blow by Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon. Usyk, nonetheless on the ground, leant in opposition to the ropes and took deep breaths.
He was given virtually 4 minutes’ restoration time by the official as a replay on the three huge screens contained in the open-air stadium confirmed Dubois’ hook touchdown on Usyk’s beltline.
Usyk recovered, the contest continued and Dubois drained. The combat led to a ninth-round stoppage as Usyk retained his WBA ‘Super’, WBO and IBF titles.
From Buster Douglas’ beatdown on the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson to Hasim Rahman’s win over the ill-prepared Lennox Lewis, there have been some monumental upsets in heavyweight historical past.
Londoner Dubois virtually joined the listing.
Team Dubois set to attraction
Immediately after the combat Dubois stated he had been “cheated out of victory”.
After being consoled by his team within the dressing room, it was left to Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren and coach Don Charles to deal with the media.
“Daniel is very upset. He won’t even come here. He’s so disappointed and I feel that for him,” Queensberry Promotion’s Warren stated.
Dubois – who was the WBA obligatory challenger – has dreamt of turning into heavyweight champion from a younger age, ever since being confirmed VHS tapes of Lennox Lewis by his dad.
Charles added: “I’ve usually got a lot to say but I’m speechless. Daniel Dubois has left the building. He’s distraught. He’s a young man aspiring to do great things in life, in boxing.”
Warren plans to lobby the WBA to change the consequence to a no-contest or order a direct rematch.
“The knockdown, which the judge said was below the belt, you can look back and see where the punch landed, the waistband of his shorts,” he stated.
Charles referred to as for the usage of expertise in championship boxing. Warren questioned why, if the referee did contemplate it a low blow, was Dubois not docked some extent.
Usyk insists blow was unlawful
Former world champion Carl Frampton echoed Warren and what many on social media felt.
“That was not a low blow. That was a body shot. He should have been counted out. Daniel Dubois should be unified heavyweight champion right now,” Frampton stated on TNT Sports commentary.
But Usyk and his team had an altogether completely different interpretation at their post-fight information convention.
They regarded shocked the low blow was even a speaking level, though have been ready for the questioning.
“Do we have a definition of legal and illegal? The belly button is the line. Anything low of that is a low below,” promoter Alex Krassyuk stated.
Usyk stood up and lifted his shirt, displaying his midriff and pointing to the place he felt the shot landed.
“Boxing is sport and gentleman. It’s not a street fight,” Usyk stated, including: “I’m ready to fight tomorrow. In a rematch. In the street fight. Not boxing gloves but a street fight. Only fists.”
Krassyuk accused Dubois of combating soiled. Trainer Russ Anber – working as a cornerman for Usyk – walked to the centre of the room and waved his telephone, saying he had a nonetheless picture of the punch which proves it was unlawful.
‘Don’t let Tyson hit me beneath the belt’
Usyk was combating in entrance of a lot of Ukrainians for the primary time for the reason that Russian invasion 18 months in the past.
He ended the information convention by fielding questions on a possible undisputed bout with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
It was virtually agreed for 29 April at Wembley Stadium earlier than talks stalled and a blame sport adopted. Disagreements over purse splits and rematch clauses on the centre of the failed negotiations, all aired out in public.
“If he wants it, I want it, but let him not hit me below the belt,” Usyk joked.
Briton Fury will face MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in a non-title bout on 28 October in Saudi Arabia, a bout purists don’t regard as true boxing contest.
There has been a powerful urge for food for a historic Usyk-Fury combat to crown the primary undisputed heavyweight champion within the four-belt period.
But if Warren and Dubois get their approach and a rematch is ordered, the wait for an undisputed champion may go on for just a little longer.
