Usyk is once again the sole heavyweight king, while Dubois is dramatically defeated. "Glory to Ukraine!"
Oleksandr Usyk has entered the boxing legend with full rights. After doing so for the first time by beating Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian has once again reunified the world heavyweight titles (WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO) under his own control. This is no small feat, given that the last person to do so was Lennox Lewis in 1999. Daniel Dubois , who showed up at the immense Wembley stadium (over 90,000 spectators) with his age (27 vs. 38), his power, and his ambition, was swept away in the fifth round. Knocked down once with a right to the temple, the big boy from Greenwich got up, but instead of seeking shelter from the storm, he threw himself headlong into it. Essentially, he immediately sought revenge, but this wasn't a Jason Statham movie; the actor was enjoying the scene at ringside. A fatal mistake: Usyk is not one to waste punches, he found huge openings and with a deadly left hook to the jaw he closed the match with a dramatic knockout.
Usyk at the center of the world"I'm a young 38-year-old guy," he exclaimed after the match, and the Wembley crowd, despite rooting for their boxer, rewarded him with a well-deserved ovation. "Now I'll rest for two or three months, then I'll think about the future." That could still be Fury (who is hesitating after announcing his retirement), Parker, Joshua, or who knows. Much will depend on the intentions of Turki Alalshikh, who has put Saudi Arabia—and its accompanying money—at the center of world boxing plans.
Speaking of money, the overall gross of the Wembley night, including boxing, sponsors, and pay-per-view, is expected to be around $200 million, with Usyk taking the lion's share (estimated earnings of $130 million).
In the history of boxingThe usual discussions about Usyk's place in boxing history will now resume, with boxing crusaders of yore raising their voices. Sure, Usyk won't be a larger-than-life figure like Tyson, nor will he have the appeal of Ali, and we agree with that entirely. But in pure boxing, the Ukrainian is a master who's hard to beat. He reads the fight and writes it at the same time, adapting striking strategies to the most diverse situations.
It was the same on the London night. He knew he had to be careful of the Englishman's right hand, and despite taking a couple of them, he didn't take any risks. He knew Dubois would struggle with the inside shots (the two had met in Wroclaw two years ago, with the same outcome in favor of the Ukrainian) and he didn't miss a beat. He made sure Dubois's physicality diminished and gave him no chance. A sole heavyweight champion, he had also been a light heavyweight champion. As an amateur, he had a trophy cabinet full of gold medals: Olympic in London, World Championship, European Championship. He prepared for the match like a hermit in his training camp in Valencia. "But now I want to go back to my wife and children." He has four: Kyrylo, Mykhalio, Yelizaveta, and Maria. The two sons want to win the Olympics like their father, one in judo, the other in boxing. Everything has its time, and for now, that time belongs to Usyk Sr., who in the ring shouts with all his might "Slava Ukraini"—glory to Ukraine. This is a time when the people need heroes.
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