Oleksandr Usyk Knocks Out Dubois to Reclaim Crown \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium. He regained his IBF belt and retained his WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles. Usyk remains undefeated and is now a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Quick Looks
- Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois by fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium.
- With the win, Usyk retained his WBA, WBC, and WBO titles and regained the IBF belt.
- Dubois was knocked down twice in Round 5, unable to recover after a left cross.
- Usyk improves to 24-0, with 15 wins by knockout, continuing his unbeaten streak.
- This is Usyk’s second win over Dubois in under two years — no low-blow controversy this time.
- Dubois joins Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua among Brits defeated by Usyk.
- Usyk, formerly undisputed cruiserweight champion, proves dominance again at heavyweight.
Deep Look
On a night that reaffirmed his place in boxing’s history books, Oleksandr Usyk delivered a dominant and conclusive performance at Wembley Stadium, knocking out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round and reclaiming his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The Ukrainian southpaw — already an Olympic gold medalist, undisputed cruiserweight champion, and unified heavyweight king — added the final jewel back to his crown by regaining the IBF title he was forced to vacate in 2023.
Usyk, now 24-0 with 15 knockouts, showcased the complete package: slick footwork, exceptional timing, flawless technique, and the kind of composure under pressure that defines generational greatness. From the first round, it was clear he came to silence any lingering doubts after his controversial first meeting with Dubois nearly two years prior, which had been marred by a disputed low blow call and questions over Dubois’ resilience.
But at Wembley, there was no ambiguity — only dominance.
Usyk controlled the pace from the start, expertly managing distance and angles while preventing Dubois from establishing any rhythm. Dubois, a powerful but often one-dimensional puncher, entered the fight with 21 knockouts in 22 wins. Yet he struggled to land anything clean against Usyk’s constant movement and feints. While he occasionally found openings to the body, none of his punches had the desired effect. Usyk, in contrast, made every punch count.
In Round 5, the fight’s momentum shifted irreversibly. Usyk, recognizing Dubois’ growing frustration and defensive lapses, upped the pressure. A clean combination forced Dubois to the canvas for the first time in the round, stunning the crowd and signaling what was to come. Just moments later, Usyk lunged forward with a brutal left cross that detonated on Dubois’ jaw. The British fighter crumbled to the canvas, clearly dazed. He tried to rise, but couldn’t beat the referee’s count. The bout was waved off as Wembley erupted in celebration of a masterful finish by a true champion.
The win carries significant weight beyond just the belts. With this knockout, Usyk becomes a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat few in boxing history have achieved — especially across two weight classes. His return to the top of the division is also a symbolic response to the politics of boxing, which had briefly stripped him of the IBF title due to mandatory obligations he couldn’t fulfill while unifying the division with Tyson Fury.
Speaking of Fury, Usyk’s latest victory further amplifies his claim as the top heavyweight of this era. While Fury remains one of his toughest rivals — their razor-thin split decision in 2024 continues to spark debate — Usyk now has wins over three of Britain’s top heavyweights: Anthony Joshua (twice), Daniel Dubois (twice), and Tyson Fury. His résumé at heavyweight is now arguably unmatched in the post-Klitschko era.
Daniel Dubois, now 22-3, faces another setback. Once hailed as the next great British heavyweight, he’s now lost to Usyk twice and been stopped in all three of his career defeats. While his punching power remains dangerous, questions around his durability, ring IQ, and ability to adapt against elite opposition will likely shape how promoters and fans view his path forward. A rebuilding phase seems imminent.
Usyk, at 38, shows no signs of slowing. His movement, precision, and stamina rival those of fighters a decade younger. And perhaps more impressively, he’s doing it at heavyweight — a division traditionally dominated by size and brute strength rather than finesse. His success in neutralizing bigger, stronger opponents speaks to his elite ring intelligence and conditioning.
With the IBF belt now back around his waist, Usyk once again holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. That unification not only makes him the clear lineal champion but reaffirms his legacy as one of the greatest technicians the sport has seen. He joins rare company as a fighter who became undisputed in multiple divisions, alongside legends like Evander Holyfield and Terence Crawford.
What’s next for Usyk? While a rematch with Tyson Fury is an obvious commercial and competitive attraction, Usyk has hinted at the possibility of retirement. If he were to step away now, he would do so at the pinnacle of the sport, undefeated, and having unified every division he ever entered. Few boxers in history have had the luxury to retire as reigning undisputed champion — Usyk would be among them.
Alternatively, the lure of one last mega-fight — a trilogy with Joshua, a rematch with Fury, or even a blockbuster against a rising name like Jared Anderson — may be too tempting to resist.
For now, though, Oleksandr Usyk stands alone at the summit of heavyweight boxing, a quiet technician in a division of brawlers, a master of motion in a world of power, and above all, a two-time undisputed champion whose legacy is written in the clean lines of his jab and the thudding punctuation of his knockout left hand.
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