Reigning WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk survived a scare to score a title defense Saturday. Usyk downed Daniel Dubois in the ninth round by TKO to improve to 21-0 in his career. The event took place from Wroclaw, Poland.
Oleksandr Usyk Scores Heavyweight Title Defense
Reigning WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk earned his second title defense Saturday from Wroclaw, Poland.
Usyk survived an early scare when he was dropped by Daniel Dubois in the fifth, improving to 21-0 with 14 wins by stoppage. However, the knockdown was ruled a low blow by referee Luis Pabon and no count was ever given.
Pabon allowed Usyk time to recover and Dubois said his team plans to file an appeal while pushing for an immediate rematch.
The 36-year-old Usyk earned his fifth win over an English boxer, adding to two wins vs. Anthony Joshua. He made it known that his next fight plans do not include a rematch.
“I’m ready tomorrow for Tyson Fury,” he said (thanks to ESPN for the quotes). “I’m ready next fight to fight Tyson Fury, but Tyson Fury, I have no idea.”
Fury is set to meet former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou later this year. His title is not on the line in that match.
“I’m grateful for my family and the Ukrainian army,” Usyk said.
Usyk has been on the front line with his countrymen fighting the battle in Ukraine. He made his entrance following a video message from Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Aadam Hamed, the son of “Prince” Naseem Hamed, earned a win in his professional debut over Vojtech Hrdy. His father was a featherweight champion in the 1990s.
Denys Berincyk topped Anthony Yigit, Hamzah Sheeraz downed Dmytro Mytrofanov, Anauel Ngamissengue defeated Fiodor Czerkaszyn and Daniel Lapin finished Aro Schwartz in other action.
