OLEKSANDR USYK only needed five rounds to knock Daniel Dubois out and become undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time.
The 38-year-old Ukraine legend and London 2012 golden boy needed nine rounds to make the 27-year-old surrender two years ago.
ReutersOleksandr Usyk beat Daniel Dubois to unify the heavyweight division[/caption]
ReutersHe knocked out the Brit in brutal fashion in their rematch, having already put DDD on the ground[/caption]
PADubois didn’t last five rounds[/caption]
PAUsyk dropped to his knees as the ref waved the fight off[/caption]
But on Dubois’ home turf he halved his shift time and demolished his chin and spirit in five.
After a close fight that Usyk was dominating, it was a right hand that dropped Dubois first.
However, the Brit bravely climbed off the canvas on eight.
But when a missile of a left hook handed seconds later, Dubois was never going to beat the count or the genius who reclaimed the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts once again.
And that was his four-belt hat-trick – after he cleared out the cruiserweight division in his first pro run – to cement his place as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Essex-based Dubois gave his fans a fright when he didn’t arrive at Wembley until around 90 minutes before the opening bell.
It was a worrying reminder of the scandalous 60 minutes Anthony Joshua gave himself when he was blown away by Dynamite Dan last September in the same ring.
He did arrive just in time to see the VIPs take their ringside seats, as Gordan Ramsey, Frank Bruno, Jason Statham and YouTube boxer Jake Paul filled the front rows.
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And by 9.15pm the Londoner was strapping on his dangerous 10oz black leather gloves and shorts – paying homage to Mike Tyson – and preparing to be the new baddest man on the planet.
Usyk covered his head with a grey hood, like a mysterious James Bond villain and was roundly booed when his moustached face popped up on the giant screen.
Despite a dismal undercard, the home of football was packed to the rafters and God Save the King was roared out by the crowd.
And Dubois made his ring walk with a Union Jack flag held over his shoulder by a member of his team.
There were fireworks and flame throwers when he emerged from the dressing room and the roar of a lion boomed over the tannoy.
Dubois’ 12-year-old little brother Solomon carried his bright red IBF belt to the ring, despite it being well past his bedtime.
Apart from a few head nods to the music, DDD looked ice cool and emotionless as he prepared to dance with the 38-year-old Ukraine genius and his destiny.
Usyk’s introduction was iconic also, and the pockets of Ukrainians inside the stadium made themselves heard when his trademark tune hit.
Moments before the bell, Dubois – who had been prowling around the ring waiting for his foe – walked into his red corner to get his gumshield inserted and he caught his dad Stan’s eye at ringside.
ReutersUsyk was at his brilliant best throughout[/caption]
ReutersDubois was not beating the count after hitting the deck twice[/caption]
‘You just run out of things to say’ – Usyk is a modern day great and one of the best boxers we have ever seen
OLEKSANDR USYK is a modern day great and one of the best boxers we have ever seen.
The Ukrainian battered a gallant but completely outclassed Daniel Dubois in their Wembley rematch to become a three-time undisputed champion.
Two of those came at heavyweight after he had already cleaned up the cruiserweight division.
You just run out of things to say about Usyk.
Everything that he does just impresses you more and more and more.
Read the full comment piece on the Ukrainian’s stunning KO victory.
The pair nodded at each other as the young charge tried to etch the family name into boxing folklore forever.
Finally devout Usyk removed his giant silver crucifix, kissed Christ and went to work.
Usyk laid down a marker with three brilliant jabs, the first after just 10 seconds.
But Dubois didn’t wilt and scored back with heavy right hands to the southpaw’s chest and one whipped uppercut.
In the final seconds of the opener Usyk really opened up with a 1-2-3 combo but Dubois showed off his new defensive skills.
Usyk started the second with a fizzing straight left hand but Dubois battled back with a couple of one-twos that looked like banking him the round.
AFPUsyk was not shy about celebrating his win[/caption]
PAThe ace bathed in glory at Wembley[/caption]
Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent
OLEKSANDR USYK crushed Daniel Dubois as he reclaimed the well-earned title of undisputed champion.
The Ukrainian has beaten everybody there is to beat at both cruiserweight and heavyweight level.
And that means he may be inclined to try to rack up a third victory over either Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
Following his fifth-round KO against Dubois, Usyk opened up on who he felt his next fight could be against.
The two-time undisputed heavyweight champ said: “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury.
“Maybe we have three choices, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker.”
But like any boxing mastermind, Usyk knew how to snatch back the upper hand and right before the bell he cracked our boy with a counter left hand and stunned him for the first time.
Then Usyk was buzzed as soon as the third started with a big right hand and three more similar whacks followed.
But he played possum in response and walked the giant knockout artist onto a short left hook to reassert his control.
Dubois, as the round closed off, started to look tired, just as Usyk was finding his flow.
Dubois threw his first body shot in the final 30 seconds of the fifth and Usyk nodded.
But the Brit’s output plummeted as he started to fear the brilliant counter punches that always pinged back in his direction when he dared to unload first.
GettyDubois struggled to get into the rhythm of the fight[/caption]
PAHe was just unable to land a KO blow throughout the fight[/caption]
Then it unraveled for Dubois when he was cracked with a right hand close to the back of his head.
DDD stumbled backwards and took a knee to recover and – to his credit – jumped up on eight desperate to continue.
He looked to his dad in the corner and bit down on his gumshield after gasping for air and inspiration.
But it wasn’t to come. Usyk switched hands and scythed him down with a sickening straight left.
Dubois collapsed again and was never beating the count.
Usyk said afterwards: “The victory is for my people. 38 is only a young number. 38 is a young guy
ReutersUsyk showed off his amazing collection of belts[/caption]
GettyDubois vowed to come back again after another heartbreaking loss[/caption]
“This is just the beginning. Thank you Wembley. I don’t want anything next, this is enough.
“I want to rest now. I want to get home to my family and wife and my children.
“I want to rest now but maybe – in two or three months – actually no, just rest.
“Maybe Tyson Fury is next, or Anthony Joshua or Joseph Parker. I cannot say because I want to go home.”
Dubois said: “I have to commend him for his performance. I have nothing bad to say about him. I will be back.
“I was in a fight and I was just trying to win round-by-round.”
Usyk vs Dubois round by round as brutal knockout cements Ukrainian’s place in history
OLEKSANDR USYK cemented his name in the list of all-time boxing greats as he became a three-time undisputed champion with a fifth round knockout win over Daniel Dubois.
Usyk dropped Dubois multiple times as he put any doubts about his first win over the Brit to bed by cementing the repeat and avoiding the revenge.
Here, SunSport’s Jack Figg gives his round-by-round verdict…
ROUND ONE
Usyk looks light on his toes, swaying side to side, Dubois plants his feet and walks forward.
Stiff jab from Usyk appears to almost wake Dubois up and the Brit responds with a one-two.
Usyk searches to the body with a left, blocks a right hand from Dubois and ends the round with a menacing combo.
Usyk 10 Dubois 9
ROUND TWO
Dubois lunges in with a right hand, Usyk expertly takes half a step back and responds with a counter left.
Another right misses from Dubois and he takes a left cross which has him on shaky legs.
Already Usyk is finding his rhythm, making Dubois miss and certainty making him pay.
Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 20 Dubois 18)
ROUND THREE
Usyk staggers back after a right hand from Dubois – maybe more off balance than hurt.
Dubois charges forward with a left hook, right hand but Usyk covers up well.
Huge left hook lands on the button from Usyk, sweat sprays off Dubois face.
Usyk 10 Dubois 9 (Usyk 30 Dubois 27)
ROUND FOUR
Right uppercut lands on Usyk’s belt-line in a genuine case of dejavu from low-blow gate in their first fight.
Dubois traps Usyk in the corner, lands a right but the Ukrainian legend slips off before any troubling damage can be done.
Left hand lands for Usyk but Dubois grabs on and closes the distance, smart defence to cap off his best round so far.
Usyk 9 Dubois 10 (Usyk 39 Dubois 37)
ROUND FIVE
Right hook followed by a left hand lands for Usyk has Dubois teetering backwards.
Dubois comes forward, charging at Usyk and the two trade off in the corner but DOWN GOES DUBOIS after a counter right hook.
He makes it to his feet but is dropped with another left hook and the fight is over! Dubois fails to beat the count and Usyk is once again undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Usyk wins by KO
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