Ukrainian boxing maestro Oleksandr Usyk delivered a devastating performance at Wembley Stadium tonight, stopping Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to reclaim his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The 38-year-old warrior knocked out the British challenger before a capacity crowd of 90,000, unifying the division for the second time in his illustrious career.
Usyk entered the ring holding the WBO, WBC and WBA titles, whilst Dubois defended his IBF belt. The Ukrainian’s victory means he once again holds all four major world championships, having previously relinquished the IBF title last year.
The decisive moment arrived midway through round five when Usyk floored Dubois with a stunning right hook.
The Londoner courageously rose to his feet, but his reprieve proved fleeting.
Moments later, the Ukrainian delivered what a devastating left counter hook to the chin of Dubois. The 27-year-old Briton was counted out, unable to continue.
This emphatic finish dashed British hopes of crowning the nation’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999.
Dubois had sought to avenge his previous defeat to Usyk, but instead suffered another crushing setback at the hands of the masterful Ukrainian.
Usyk’s triumph extends his unblemished professional record to 24 victories, further establishing his dominance over Britain’s heavyweight elite.
The Ukrainian has now defeated Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua twice each, with Dubois joining that exclusive list of British champions unable to solve the Usyk puzzle.
In a poignant gesture, the champion brought a group of Ukrainian war veterans to witness his victory at Wembley. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing conflict in his homeland.
The 38-year-old’s achievement marks him as a three-time undisputed world champion, having previously unified the cruiserweight division before conquering heavyweight boxing’s summit.
Dubois had claimed the vacant IBF title with a devastating victory over Anthony Joshua in September, raising hopes of redemption against Usyk.
However, the Ukrainian’s clinical performance tonight marked the second time he has stopped the young Briton, having previously defeated him in 2023.
The 27-year-old’s ambitions of unifying the division were comprehensively extinguished by an absolute masterclass from Usyk.
Dubois now shares the frustration of his compatriots Fury and Joshua, each having fallen twice to the undefeated Ukrainian technician.
The result confirms Usyk’s status as the division’s undisputed ruler, with British heavyweight boxing once again falling short against Eastern European excellence.
