Daniel Dubois is fuming over what he considers questionable officiating during his title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
After being floored in the waning moments of the eighth round, Dubois, a 25-year-old British boxer, went on to suffer a knockout defeat in the ninth round of Saturday’s heavyweight title clash at Tarczyński Arena Wrocław in Wroclaw, Poland. However, the loss didn’t come without its share of drama. During the fifth round, Dubois sent Usyk tumbling with a powerful punch to the torso, only for referee Luis Pabon to rule the hit illegal. Pabon then proceeded to give Usyk an unusually long break to recover, even overriding the champion’s wish to resume fighting right away.
Amid a sea of Usyk supporters from Ukraine, Dubois and his team didn’t mince words, accusing Pabon of misconduct after the final bell and the official verdict were announced.
“I didn’t see that as a low blow at all. In my eyes, that was a legal hit, and I was denied a rightful win tonight,” Dubois lamented during his post-fight ringside chat.
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Frank Warren, who promotes Dubois, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Cheated, plain and simple. The punch was square on the waistband, which is exactly what we trained for—body shots. We saw that as a chink in Usyk’s armor. That referee botched it, no two ways about it. And the fact that no points were docked? If it’s a low blow, then penalize him! I’ve got nothing against Usyk, but that was a clear-cut case of home cooking.”
By clinching the victory, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, keeping himself in the conversation for a possible title unification match against Tyson Fury, who’s set to face former UFC champ Francis Ngannou on October 28.
But Dubois (19-2, 18 KOs) and his entourage are hell-bent on seeking restitution for what they view as a robbed, game-changing win.
“I’ve been swindled. Tonight was supposed to be my win,” Dubois declared.
Frank Warren added, “This is the sport of boxing. It should be conducted fairly, and this was anything but. The blow was legitimate. And the recovery time Usyk got? Ridiculous. The governing bodies have to step in. They must mandate a rematch because how could they not, given these circumstances? We plan to challenge this outcome, and I’m fairly certain they’ll have to arrange another bout. Justice has to prevail.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Daniel Dubois controversial foul
What is the central issue Daniel Dubois is upset about?
Daniel Dubois is irate over what he and his team consider to be a wrongful ruling of a foul by referee Luis Pabon during his heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk. Dubois feels that a crucial punch he landed in the fifth round was legal but was unfairly deemed an illegal low blow, giving Usyk unnecessary time to recover.
Who are the key players involved in this controversy?
The key players in this controversy are British boxer Daniel Dubois, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, referee Luis Pabon, and Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren.
What is Frank Warren’s stance on the issue?
Frank Warren, who promotes Daniel Dubois, firmly believes that his fighter was cheated out of victory. He argues that the punch was not a low blow and criticizes the referee for not docking points from Dubois if it was indeed considered a foul. Warren suggests that the decision was influenced by the fact that the fight took place with many Ukrainians in attendance, supporting Usyk.
What are the titles that Usyk defended successfully?
Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.
What is the team of Daniel Dubois planning to do next?
Dubois and his team are planning to appeal the official result of the fight. They are seeking a rematch, asserting that a grave injustice has been done and it needs to be corrected for the sake of the sport.
What could be the future implications for Usyk after this fight?
With this win, Oleksandr Usyk has maintained his various heavyweight titles and remains in contention for a potential title unification bout against Tyson Fury, who is scheduled to face former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
Was the fight originally considered close or one-sided?
The text suggests that the fight had its moments of drama and controversy, but does not provide specific information on whether the fight was closely contested or one-sided overall.
What kind of audience is interested in this story?
The story is likely to attract boxing enthusiasts, sports fans, and those interested in the dynamics of sports officiating and how it can influence the outcome of major events.
More about Daniel Dubois controversial foul
- Daniel Dubois Official Profile
- Oleksandr Usyk’s Boxing Record
- WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO Heavyweight Titles Explained
- Luis Pabon’s Refereeing History
- Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Upcoming Fight Details
- Boxing Rules and Regulations
- The Role of a Promoter in Boxing: A Case Study on Frank Warren
- A History of Controversial Boxing Decisions
- How to Appeal a Boxing Decision: A Step-by-Step Guide
8 comments
Man, Dubois got robbed! That punch was clean, what was the ref even thinkin’? Smh.
As a neutral viewer, gotta say, it looks fishy. Hope they get that rematch. For the sake of the sport y’know?
Luis Pabon, dude, you had one job! Even Usyk wanted to continue. Why’d you have to make it so complicated?
Boxing’s got enough controversies. Sort this out before we talk about any unification bout with Fury.
Looking fwd to see Usyk and Fury, that’ll be a fight worth watching. But first, let’s clear this up, please.
Frank Warren’s got a point. if it was a low blow, why no points off? inconsistencies everywhere!
This coulda been a career-changer for Dubois. He’s right to feel cheated. And if they dont appeal, who will?
Usyk is the champ for a reason, okay? Dubois needs to accept the loss and move on.