
Usyk demolishes Dubois with fifth-round knockout to reclaim undisputed crown
The win saw Usyk retain his WBC, WBA and WBO belts and reclaim the IBF belt he vacated last year before a rematch with Tyson Fury, with Dubois upgraded to champion and then defending the title against Anthony Joshua last September.
Usyk's skill was evident from the outset as he sidestepped everything thrown his way with deceptive ease and connected repeatedly with his jab, putting on a masterclass in counter-punching against an opponent 11 years younger than him.
Asked about the win, Usyk said: "38 is a young guy, remember! 38 is only (the) start!
"I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people.
"Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. 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, who improved his professional record to 24-0, is now a three-time undisputed champion, twice in the heavyweight division and once as a cruiserweight.
Despite weighing in at a career-heaviest 227.3 pounds on Friday, Usyk floated around the ring with an almost balletic grace and prevented Dubois from making the most of his superior size.
The Ukrainian comfortably outclassed his opponent in three of the first four rounds, but most of the damage was dealt out in a brutal fifth-round beatdown.
The Ukrainian sent his opponent to the canvas with an overhand right, before a booming left hand right on the chin dashed Dubois' dreams and brought an end to the bout.
Dubois was defiant after his loss, telling DAZN: "I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had.
"Take no credit away from that man. I'll be back. I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is."
The Ukrainian also hinted at a potential third fight against Britain's Fury, who he beat twice last year.
"Maybe, we have three choices, (Fury), Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot now say because I want to go back home," he added.
The unification fight was a rematch of one that Dubois lost by a controversial ninth-round knockout in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2023, after Usyk was given time to recover from what the referee ruled was a low blow.
Fighting earlier on the undercard, Briton Lawrence Okolie beat South African Kevin Lerena by unanimous decision in a lacklustre contest.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Joe Root not focused on record chase after latest run landmark
Joe Root insisted reeling in Sachin Tendulkar is not a top priority after the former England captain moved up to second on the list of all-time Test run-scorers. Root overtook three greats of the game in one fell swoop with a magnificent 150 against India in the fourth Rothesay Test on Friday, leapfrogging Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid. Only Tendulkar, with a mountainous 15,921 runs, is ahead of Root, who has closed to within 2,512 with Ponting among those insisting the Little Master might not be out of reach for the Yorkshireman. While Root, who has amassed 21 centuries since turning 30 four years ago, is aware tongues will be wagging about whether he can catch Tendulkar, he is adamant it is not the be-all and end-all for him. 'I can't avoid it – they're everywhere,' Root told Sky Sports. 'It is easy to get caught up in this stuff but at the end of the day, you're playing against India in one of the biggest series there is. 'It's not about you, it's about winning the game and getting your team in a position where you can follow through on that. You're not doing your job if you're concentrating on yourself. 'When you look at the names there on that list, they are all people that, as a kid, growing up, that's who I would try and be in the garden, on the street, on the driveway, at my local club. 'Even just to be mentioned in the (same) sentence as these guys is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment.' Root's form since the start of 2021 has been breathtaking, amassing 5,586 runs at an average of 56.42, and the 34-year-old admitted some introspection during Covid was a major reason behind his uptick. 'I actually went away during that period and asked can I get some footage off Sky and just look at modes of dismissal (to see) if there were any trends,' added Root, who on Friday was stumped for only the second time in his 286 Test innings. 'One thing that I've done within that period is actually try and look at the game slightly differently. 'At the start of my career, a lot of it was based on my technique. Whereas in this second phase of things, it's been more about managing risk and thinking how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible with the highest output? 'It's very easy to get caught up, get too emotional, either get too hard on yourself or feel too sorry for yourself. You've got to see it for what it is, be very honest about it, and then just try and put that into practice.'


The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal ready to complete quick deal for Eberechi Eze after Viktor Gyokeres saga with special £60m bid to Crystal Palace
ARSENAL are reportedly ready to swoop for Eberechi Eze once Viktor Gyokeres has been announced. The Swedish striker is set to be unveiled as the newest star to arrive at the Emirates this summer. 3 3 The Gunners agreed a £63.5million deal with Sporting Lisbon to finally sign the prolific striker to bolster Mikel Arteta 's frontline. But Arsenal are not expected to cease their transfer dealings this summer for the former Coventry City and Brighton forward. The Independent have claimed that the Crystal Palace star is favouring a move to North London this summer. It is suggested that there is a confidence that he will make the move across London. And Arsenal are keen to sign the attacking midfielder for less than his £68m release clause, which the Eagles are demanding be met. The report states that the Gunners will offer £60m but on "amenable" terms for Palace. It is also claimed that there is a good relationship between the clubs and they would both be "flexible". Palace have previously signed the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Marouane Chamakh. Arsenal has been hoping to split the deal into £20m instalments, and they could also include Reiss Nelson in negotiations. Eze, 27, has established himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League since his arrival at Selhurst Park. Arsenal's 2025/26 lightning bolt away kit 'leaked' as fans say 'this strip was literally made for Eze' Last season, he scored 14 goals and assisted 11 in 43 appearances in all competitions. He also scored Palace's FA Cup-winning goal against Manchester City back in May. During the Eagles' run to the final, Eze scored in all but one game as he netted against Stockport, Fulham and Aston Villa. Eze has also established himself as a regular member of the England squad and has earned 11 caps. He joined Palace back in 2020 in a £17m switch from Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. Meanwhile, Arteta has already added Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera to his squad this summer.


BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Londonderry: Two taken to hospital after football match disorder
A teenage boy and a man in his 20s have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained during disorder in Londonderry on Friday around 19:00 BST police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road were attacking each other with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area, police have disorder also occurred during and after a match between Derry City and Bohemians at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium in Londonderry. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they believed the disorder was "pre-arranged".Footage of the incident posted on social media appears to shows fans ducking and running as the fireworks explode around Democratic and Labour (SDLP) assembly member Mark H Durkan was at the match and said the event was "ruined by violence and the fear of violence" for many genuine fans. He also said a flare landed on the pitch during the game which briefly stopped play. Durkan told BBC News NI that because of concerns about violent incidents which had happened elsewhere in the city before the match, stewards put in place a "safe exit" plan for supporters' buses. He said he had been speaking to police officers during the event to ask them about their plans "to minimise the risk of bother after the match". However, as the Foyle assembly member left the Brandywell he witnessed a crowd of about 60 fans who "ignored" the stadium workers' said these people "overran the stewards" in order to get out of the car park and they ran down Lone Moor Road "hell-bent on causing more trouble"."The vast majority of people I'm sure were here for the football, others had come to fight. It's really just disgusting," the assembly member added. Officers were in attendance and worked along with stadium staff to bring the disorder under control. Police said no arrests have been made at this Féin MLA Padraig Delargy condemned those behind the said it was "terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence"."It threatened the safety and well-being of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square," Delargy game ended in a 1-1 News NI has contacted Derry City FC and Bohemians FC for comment.