For a second time, Oleksandr Usyk delivered a masterclass performance to defeat his British opponent. The Ukrainian on Saturday night, stopped Britain’s Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to reclaim his status as undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
In front of a raucous 90,000-strong crowd at Wembley Stadium, the 38-year-old Ukrainian floored Dubois twice in the fifth round, with the second knockdown proving decisive as the referee counted the Londoner out. The victory sees Usyk unify all four major heavyweight titles—WBA (Super), WBO, IBF, and WBC—for the second time in his illustrious career.
Dubois, who entered the fight as the reigning IBF titleholder following his September win over Anthony Joshua, was bidding to become the first British boxer to unify the division in the four-belt era. However, he fell short against a relentless and technically superior Usyk, suffering his third career defeat, all coming via stoppage.
The win makes it Usyk’s 24th straight professional victory, extending his undefeated record and cementing his legacy as one of boxing’s modern greats. The bout also served as a rematch of their controversial 2023 encounter, which Usyk also won by stoppage.
Speaking after the fight, an emotional Usyk told DAZN, “I’m sorry, Dubois, it’s sport. My people wanted this win.”
He added, “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.”
Usyk’s victory also signaled a form of redemption, as he regained the IBF belt stripped from him earlier this year despite his undisputed status.
