Oleksandr Usyk had too much for Tyson Fury in the ring, but then faced a challenge from Daniel Dubois after the final bell.
The Ukrainian fighter maintained his unbeaten record with a unanimous decision victory against the Gypsy King in Saudi Arabia with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112, inflicting just a second career loss on Fury – who Usyk also defeated by split-decision in a May blockbuster. However, as the boxer celebrated with his team and spoke to the media, Usyk was interrupted by IBF heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois, who defeated Anthony Joshua by knockout to retain his belt at Wembley Stadium in September.
Dubois demanded a rematch after missing out on the WBA (Super) WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles after being knocked out Usyk in August 2023. Bursting onto camera, Dubois shouted: “Usyk, I want my revenge. I want my revenge Usyk. Well done on tonight, well done on tonight. God bless. I want my revenge for the robbery last time. Lets get it. Lets go.”
He then looks for promoter Frank Warren in the ring, asking: “Where’s Frank? Frank, make it happen.” Responding, Usyk turned to Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s boxing chief – urging him to organise a fight. He said: “Mr Excellency, Your Excellency. Make me fight with Daniel Dubois. Thank you so much.” Asked later in his interview about the possible fight, he added: “No problem. After a rest, I am ready.”
Dubois, who faces former world champion Joseph Parker to defend his world title in February, was knocked out by Usyk in the ninth round of their bout – but Dubois said he had been “cheated” out of victory after flooring the Ukrainian with a body shot in the fifth round which was deemed a low blow by the referee, who subsequently gave Usyk additional time to recover.
After the bout, a furious Dubois said: “I didn’t think that was a low blow. I have been cheated out of victory, what else can I say? I have been cheated out, that was a win tonight, I will come again.” Promoter Frank Warren added: “He has been cheated out of it. That is all he worked on in camp, work to the body. The referee got it badly wrong. “It is all about a legitimate punch that he has been working on, and that should have been the end of the fight.”