WROCLAW: Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk knocked out British challenger Daniel Dubois in nine rounds on Saturday to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight boxing world titles in a fight overshadowed by a low blow controversy.

Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon counted out Dubois after he went down 48 seconds into the ninth round at the open-air Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland.

Dubois was also given a nine count at the end of the previous round but the key moment came in round five when Usyk, now with a record of 21-0, went down gasping for breath after being hit on the band of his shorts.

The referee ruled it a low blow and told Usyk to take his time as he remained on the canvas grimacing and shaking his head, with the round eventually continuing.

Dubois, who lasted longer than expected but took some big blows with blood oozing from his nose early in round nine, said the blow was legal.

“I’ve been cheated out of victory tonight,” he told TNT Sports in the ring.

His promoter Frank Warren agreed with the fighter and called for a rematch.

“That referee got it badly wrong. If it’s a low blow why didn’t he take points off him. I like Usyk but that was a home town decision, a complete home town decision. He (Dubois) won that fight.

“They gave him a couple of minutes to recover from a legitimate shot.

“The governing bodies will have to do something about it and they will order a rematch,” he added. “How can you not order a rematch on the strength of that? They have to. Justice has to be done.”

Usyk had been in control of the fight against a 25-year-old regarded by most as an underdog for whom victory would have ranked as a major upset.

The Ukrainian said he was now ready to fight WBA heavyweight champion Tyson Fury if the Briton was willing.

“Will Tyson Fury? I have no idea,” said the 36-year-old after dancing in the ring as his fans cheered.

Usyk had the better of the early exchanges but rank outsider Dubois, a 25-year-old Londoner, defied predictions he’d suffer an early defeat.

Then came Dubois’s controversial punch in the fifth, which may have been on the belt line in some eyes.

After the bout resumed, Dubois attacked and traded punches with Usyk.

The ill-feeling between the duo was visible at the end of the round and Dubois continued his attack to the body in the sixth.But Usyk started to dominate from then on, dropping Dubois in the eighth round before charging in again in the ninth, flooring the challenger once more before Pabon waved the fight off.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2023