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Oleksandr Usyk secured a victory as the heavy favorite against Daniel Dubois on Saturday, but the win came with controversy. Usyk's dominant defense of his WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles — capped by a ninth-round knockout — was clouded by a disputed referee decision over a potential low blow. In the fifth round, Dubois knocked Usyk down with a body shot that the referee deemed illegal. Usyk took the full five minutes allowed to recover. Replays showed the powerful punch landing on the belt line, sparking immediate debate among fans and commentators over whether the shot was a foul or a clean knockdown. Dubois' camp was furious and vowed to appeal, questioning why no points were deducted if the punch was indeed illegal. “I don’t think that was a low blow, and I was robbed of my victory tonight,“ Dubois said after the fight. Usyk remained composed through the early rounds but grew more aggressive following the controversial hit. The champion’s offensive push made for an exciting second half of the fight, as Dubois continued targeting the body while Usyk landed jabs and straight punches that repeatedly snapped Dubois' head back. Usyk scored the first official knockdown in the eighth round, dropping Dubois with a combination that ended with a right hook and left cross. Dubois was saved by the bell but was unable to recover from a hard right hand in the ninth. Dubois earned his title shot as the mandatory challenger after a highly anticipated Usyk vs. Tyson Fury bout fell through. Usyk now shifts his focus back to a potential undisputed heavyweight championship fight, though he remains uncertain after previous negotiations stalled. “I'm ready tomorrow,“ Usyk said post-fight. “But will Tyson Fury want it? I have no idea. I'm ready, though.“
