Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois within the 9th around on an emotional night time in entrance of hundreds of his Ukrainian enthusiasts in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday.

Usyk compelled a knockdown within the 8th around and later completed Dubois within the 9th to complete the second one protection of his WBA, IBF and WBO global heavyweight titles on the Stadion Wroclaw.

However the battle didn’t finish with out controversy.

Combating for the primary occasion since latter August, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) ruled his challenger however was once given a painful scare within the 5th around when he was once dropped with what Dubois and his group felt was once a valid frame shot. On the other hand, referee Luis Pabon dominated it a low dissipate. Negative rely was once given, and Usyk was once allowed occasion to get well sooner than the battle resumed.

Dubois and his group mentioned they plan to attraction and push for a rematch.

“I didn’t think it was a low blow, and I’ve been cheated out of victory,” Dubois mentioned.

Stated promoter Frank Warren: “If it was a low blow, why didn’t he take a point off Daniel? It was a hometown decision. How can you not order a rematch on the strength of that? We will appeal what went on here.”

Usyk, 36, from Crimea in Ukraine, scored his 5th win over an English boxer in a global name battle following triumphs over Anthony Joshua (two times), Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew sooner than beating Dubois, from Greenwich in south London.

Usyk now hopes to stand some other Englishman, WBC titleholder Tyson Infuriate, in a showdown to crown an undisputed global heavyweight champion in 2024.

“I’m ready tomorrow for Tyson Fury,” Usyk mentioned nearest beating Dubois. “I’m ready next fight to fight Tyson Fury, but Tyson Fury, I have no idea.”

The Polish town of Wroclaw has a massive Ukrainian crowd, and with Ukraine at struggle with Russia and not able to degree world sports activities occasions, this was once about as akin as it will get for a house name protection for Usyk.

“I’m grateful for my family and the Ukrainian army,” Usyk mentioned in his postfight interview.

Usyk, who has spent occasion at the entrance sequence with Ukrainian infantrymen, made his ring front nearest a video message from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was once performed on the stadium.

Dubois has important energy, however he appeared prone in his most up-to-date fights, together with a stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in 2020 and a tricky third-round win over Kevin Lerena in December by which he was once floored thrice sooner than convalescing.

On Saturday, Usyk’s southpaw talents, liquid motion and ring logic have been simply residue for Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs), 26, to comprise within the early rounds.

Dubois was once stuck through a couple of stiff southpaw jabs within the opening around of his first global name battle, and in the second one, Usyk landed two left palms on his challenger.

However Dubois was once no longer crushed early on and controlled to land a proper uppercut to the frame.

Usyk was once intense, and because the hail got here ailing on the outside stadium, his punches flowed extra freely.

The champion was once smartly in regulate, however early within the 5th around, he was once sunk to the canvas through what Pabon judged was once an unlawful low dissipate. The correct hand appeared borderline, and it left Usyk in ache at the canvas. Pabon gave Usyk a couple of mins to get well, and when the battle did resume, Usyk took a negligible sooner than getting again into his groove.

Dubois landed a left hook to the frame within the 6th around and stuck Usyk at the bell as his self belief grew.

However Usyk went at the assault within the 7th around and attempted to power the knockout with a line of left palms that left Dubois taking a look groggy.

Within the 8th around, Dubois was once doing smartly till Usyk noticed a chance at the counter and landed 4 punches to the lead of the pinnacle that dropped the challenger to his knees. Dubois were given up on the rely of 9 and was once later rescued through the bell.

Usyk sensed the knockout was once akin and didn’t permit Dubois to land some other punch. Simply 48 seconds into the 9th around, Usyk completed Dubois when he leaped right into a cut, instantly proper that despatched the challenger to the canvas and he was once counted out.

At the undercard in Wroclaw, Aadam Hamed, the son of “Prince” Naseem Hamed, who dominated as global featherweight champion within the Nineteen Nineties, had a snappy skilled debut, preventing Vojtech Hrdy within the first around of a really perfect light-weight bout.