Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Results after controversial low blow and knockout
Re-live updates after Usyk retained the unified heavyweight titles against the Briton in Poland
Oleksandr Usyk retained the unified heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois on Saturday, in a hugely controversial fight in Poland.
Usyk dropped Dubois at the end of the eighth round and did the same in the ninth, with referee Luis Pabon waving off the bout after the second knockdown. However, many viewers felt that Dubois was denied a genuine knockout win in the fifth round. Ukrainian Usyk crumpled to the mat after a right hook to the body by Dubois, with the punch appearing to land right on the belt line. But Pabon ruled it an illegal shot, suggesting it was a low blow.
Rules dictate that a fighter is allowed five minutes to recover from such a punch, and Usyk, 36, used four of them before resuming the main event in Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena. Usyk even told Pabon that he was ready to continue, but the referee urged the southpaw to take more time.
In the following rounds, Usyk turned the screw, fighting well behind his jab and increasingly crafting combinations that troubled Dubois, 25. The Briton then hit the mat after a flurry of straight shots from Usyk at the end of the eighth round, before going down again due to a jab in the ninth. Although Dubois made it back to his feet, Pabon waved off the fight.
Re-live updates from Usyk vs Dubois and all undercard fights, below.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 9
Berinchyk is giving Yigit no space to breathe. He’s stalking the Swede and mixing up his output.
Not a lot is landing clean for the Ukrainian, until he tags Yigit with a flush right hook to the cheek.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 8
Yigit with some solid body shots as Berinchyk closes range.
Both men land hooks simultaneously, but it’s Berinchyk’s that makes the greater impact, wobbling Yigit.
The Swede’s guard holds up, however, as Berinchyk shoots out some short, teasing, straight punches.
Berinchyk just misses with a right hook, then he eats one from Yigit.
Uppercuts off both wings from Berinchyk, who starts to bully a tired-looking Yigit in the final seconds of the frame.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 7
It’s an intriguing round, with both men landing their fair share of shots. Yigit is still very much in this.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 6
Berinchyk will surely look to target that wound. If he does, he’s got a good chance of forcing a stoppage.
Yigit with a double right hook, split between the head and body of Berinchyk.
This is decent stuff from Yigit, but Berinchyk clearly has a power advantage.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 5
Yigit has done a better job at asserting himself across the last couple of rounds.
He’s light on his feet, and he’s starting to lean on his hooks a bit more.
Both lightweights land jabs simultaneously. Now a right cross from Berinchyk.
Berinchyk starts to rebuild some momentum, and Yigit is suddenly sporting a bad cut over his left eye... Blood is trickling down his cheek.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Oleksandr Usyk is shown having his hands wrapped in his dressing room, and he makes a funny face for the camera.
One of his team members covers the lens, though.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 4
Yigit throws a counter left uppercut and right hook. Double-jab up top, left cross to the body by Yigit.
He tries a lead right hook while pivoting away from Berinchyk, and then the same again.
Now he catches Berinchyk with a right hook, right at the end of its extension. It’s the last punch of the round.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 3
Berinchyk continues to drive a high pace. Back in an orthodox stance, he triples up his jab, landing sharply.
His right hand is getting through with increasing frequency, too.
Just as Yigit looks to arrest the momentum, Berinchyk forces him back again.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 2
Good head movement from Yigit as Berinchyk pressures him.
Berinchyk with a nice jab to the body, into an uppercut through Yigit’s guard. Both men are opening up more now.
Solid uppercut from Yigit while he circles to the left. Yigit tries the same shot off the other side, while going right.
Both fighters stand southpaw now. Berinchyk pummels the body of Yigit, whose nose is also leaking a bit.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Denys Berinchyk vs Anthony Yigit
Round 1
This one’s actually a rematch of a 2012 Olympics clash between the pair, which Berinchyk won.
He pressures his southpaw opponent early on here. Yigit with lateral movement to avoid getting cornered.
Berinchyk slips and falls, but he’s quickly back to his feet.
Berinchyk jabs to the body, but it’s been a cautious round from both lightweights.
Now the Ukrainian jabs upstairs. Yigit fires back with a combination to the head, before the fighters grapple to round out the frame.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments