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: Dmytro Mytrofanov vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Round 2
Sheeraz gets out on the front foot, and he drops Mytrofanov with a right cross!
The Ukrainian stands back up, but the referee waves it off! He’s seen enough.
Four knockdowns in fewer than four minutes of boxing. The right call from the official – no need to prolong this.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Dmytro Mytrofanov vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Round 1
Sheeraz is much the taller fighter! Both men stand orthodox.
Sheeraz’s left hand is looking like lightning, both on the jab and his lead hook.
OH! And he drops Mytrofanov with a double-jab! Wow... Inside 45 seconds!
Mytrofanov is back up and pressing forward, leaning from side to side. More rapid jabs from Sheeraz.
One-two, hook from Sheeraz! It knocks the Ukrainian off balance somewhat. OH! A jab sits down Mytrofanov again!!
Now Sheeraz starts to unload bigger shots, and Mytrofanov gets a standing count. He’s okay to continue, and he just about makes it to the bell...
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Dmytro Mytrofanov vs Hamzah Sheeraz
The unbeaten Sheeraz, fighting out of London, puts his WBC Silver title on the line in this one.
Let’s go!
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Dmytro Mytrofanov vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Here’s an interview between The Independent and Sheeraz from last summer:
Hamzah Sheeraz on hopes of fighting at Arsenal’s ground and the problem with a Plan B
Exclusive interview: The 23-year-old Briton headlines at the Copperbox Arena in London’s Olympic Park this Saturday
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Dmytro Mytrofanov vs Hamzah Sheeraz
Next up, Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz takes on Ukraine’s Dmytro Mytrofanov at middleweight.
Hamzah Sheeraz relishing chance to beat Dmytro Mytrofanov ‘in his backyard’
The London fighter takes on his Ukrainian opponent in Poland on the Usyk vs Dubois undercard
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Anauel Ngamissengue
There’s a loooooooooong wait for the judges’ scorecards, which often means it’s a close one... That wouldn’t be a surprise.
And...
Anauel Ngamissengue def. Fiodor Czerkaszyn via majority decision (76-74, 75-75, 78-72)!
That final scorecard feels a bit wide, but the rounds were chaotic and often close.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Anauel Ngamissengue
Round 8
Final round! This could still go either way, even with Ngamissengue scoring those two knockdowns in Round 3.
A lot of activity from both fighters. It’s scrappy stuff. Ngamissengue lands hooks off both wings!
Oh, he almost stumbles through the ropes, however, after walking onto a counter uppercut from Czerkaszyn!
The action continues, and the boxers are swinging as if it’s the final 10 seconds, but there are 90 left! What a pace.
Hook to the body by Czerkaszyn; Ngamissengue lands upstairs. The middleweights grapple against the ropes briefly.
Eventually they’re separated after they’ve thrown a fair few body shots.
Ngamissengue with a big right hand!! He’s forced to hold on in the final 10 seconds!! And he does!
WHAT a fight!!!
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Anauel Ngamissengue
Round 7
Penultimate round. Decent right cross for Czerkaszyn as Ngamissengue backs him up.
Now a rear uppercut by Czerkaszyn! He squeezes it through his opponent’s guard.
Oh! Back comes Ngamissengue with an overhand right! Czerkaszyn with a right cross.
It’s frantic action! The pace slows a bit, though, as the middleweights clinch. Even then, however, they’re throwing shots.
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Anauel Ngamissengue
Round 6
Ngamissengue jabs to the body; Czerkaszyn jabs to the head. The Pole’s hands are low, which is a brave strategy given those earlier knockdowns.
That said, he has had success since those worrying moments; maybe his confidence is back.
Ngamissengue is breathing heavily, but he’s still coming forward. His head is jolted back slightly by a trio of straight punches from Czerkaszyn.
Czerkaszyn then leans on the French-Congolese against the ropes.
Ngamissengue is definitely not as technically sound as the Pole, and it’s showing more and more as the fight progresses. It might not matter, though!
Usyk vs Dubois LIVE: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Anauel Ngamissengue
Round 5
Ngamissengue is still on top, still pressing forward. The crowd cheers as Czerkaszyn starts to fire back, though!
He changes up his target, going from head to body, favouring hooks.
Now Ngamissengue forces him back with a series of jabs, then a left hook that just misses.
A bit more success for Czerkaszyn, before the pair grapple.
Ngamissengue bows his head against Czerkaszyn’s chest and unloads hooks to the midriff. Again he just misses with a wild left hook to the head.
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