LONDON (BN24) — Ukrainian boxing star Oleksandr Usyk reclaimed his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion Saturday night after delivering a crushing fifth-round knockout to Britain’s Daniel Dubois in front of a roaring crowd at Wembley Stadium.
Usyk, 38, floored Dubois with a thunderous right hook midway through the round, then sealed the bout with a precise left to the chin, sending the 27-year-old Briton to the canvas and ending the fight in decisive fashion. The victory marked Usyk’s second time claiming the undisputed heavyweight title, further solidifying his place in the sport’s elite ranks.
The bout was billed as a redemption match for Dubois, who had suffered a controversial loss to Usyk in 2023 in Krakow, Poland. In that fight, Dubois was penalized for an alleged low blow in the fifth round — a moment that sparked debate throughout boxing circles. Heading into Saturday’s contest, Dubois had promised that Usyk would face a “different” fighter this time. But the Ukrainian champion, carrying the hopes of a war-weary nation and joined at ringside by Ukrainian military veterans, proved once again why he remains unbeaten in his professional career.
With this win, Usyk unified the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, reclaiming the belt he had vacated last year. Dubois had captured the vacant IBF title in September with a knockout win over Anthony Joshua, but his brief reign came to an abrupt end at Wembley. The loss makes Dubois the latest in a string of top British heavyweights — including Tyson Fury and Joshua — to fall to the undefeated Usyk.
Usyk entered the ring with his signature focus, accompanied by a small group of wounded Ukrainian veterans, a symbolic gesture as his homeland continues to battle Russia’s ongoing invasion. The moment brought added weight to the occasion, transforming the showdown into more than just a title fight.
With Wembley Stadium packed and tensions high, Dubois attempted to press early, but Usyk’s technical mastery, timing, and movement quickly overwhelmed the younger fighter. By round five, Usyk had found his rhythm, unloading a devastating right before finishing with a left hook that left no doubt.
The win reaffirms Usyk’s dominance in the heavyweight division and continues his meteoric rise from cruiserweight king to heavyweight legend. As chants of “Usyk! Usyk!” echoed throughout the venue, the Ukrainian stood tall — once again at the pinnacle of the boxing world.
