Oleksandr Usyk left zero controversy in today’s rematch with Daniel Dubois, dominating the fight and scoring a sensational fifth round knockout to once again become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) was all over Dubois (22-3, 21 KO) from the start, out-boxing his younger opponent, using his superior skill, and also just fighting like a champion who was there to prove a point and end all doubts about which of them was the better fighter.
Dubois didn’t fight poorly,
but he was simply out-classed. He was dropped in the fifth round, got up, and then was knocked clean out moments later on a monstrous left hand.
Usyk, 38, said his age is “just a start,” and only hinted at what might come next for him, having achieved really as much as anyone can in the sport.
Asked what he wants to do next, Usyk replied, in typical Usyk fashion, “Nothing. It’s enough. I don’t know what’s next. I want to rest. I don’t know, I’ll go back home with my family, my wife and my children. I want to rest now.”
Pressed about who he might want to face next, he said, “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three [other] options: Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker. I cannot say now, because I want to go back home.”
Fury has said that he wants to fight Usyk again in April 2026, and Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in making that fight happen, too.
“I have to commend him, I gave everything I had,” Dubois said. “There were a few things I could have sharpened up, but take no credit from the man, and I’ll be back. ... I gave my best, we’ll go back to the drawing board and come again.”
“We tried to get going. (Dubois is) a young champion, 27 years old, remarkable what he’s achieved to date,” said Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles. “He’ll be back from this stronger. (Usyk) is a great champion, a generational great. If you’re going to lose, lose to someone like that.”
Undercard results
Lawrence Okolie picked up a clear if dull win over Kevin Lerena in a 10-round heavyweight bout, taking it on scores of 99-91, 100-90, and 100-90. Okolie (22-1, 16 KO) isn’t the most exciting guy generally, far less than his KO percentage would make you think if you hadn’t seen him, but his style can be effective, and he’s still adjusting into being a full-fledged heavyweight, too. Lerena falls to 31-4 (15 KO).
6’6” Ukrainian light heavyweight Daniel Lapin edged out a majority decision over Lewis Edmondson on scores of 95-95, 96-94, and 96-94. Lapin (12-0, 4 KO) has the potential to be a very tricky southpaw for other 175 lbers to fight, but there are still many steps up the ladder to see if he’ll be a serious contender. Edmondson (11-1, 3 KO) was able to muck the fight up somewhat and make it close.
Heavyweight Solomon Dacres got back in the win column with a wide decision win over a lumbering Vladyslav Sirenko. Dacres (10-1, 3 KO) was coming off of a first round stoppage loss to David Adeleye, but he did the job in this one. Sirenko (22-1, 19 KO) frankly looked like a fighter whose level was being badly exposed after only facing club fighters with his three fights last year, all he’d had since 2021.
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