Boxing
Usyk Floors Dubois in Fifth-Round Knockout to Reclaim Undisputed Heavyweight Crown
Oleksandr Usyk reaffirmed his status as boxing’s undisputed heavyweight world champion on Saturday night with a devastating fifth-round knockout of Britain’s Daniel Dubois in front of a roaring crowd at Wembley Stadium.
In a clinical and composed performance, the Ukrainian maestro floored Dubois with a thunderous overhand right, then followed up with a crushing left hook to seal the win and reclaim the IBF belt he had vacated last year.
Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois – Undisputed World Heavyweight Title – BoxPark Wembley, London, Britain – July 19, 2025 Oleksandr Usyk in action against Daniel Dubois Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Usyk’s victory settles the score after a controversial first bout in 2023, where Dubois was ruled to have landed a low blow that gave Usyk time to recover before securing a ninth-round stoppage. This time, there was no controversy—only brilliance.
“It’s enough. Next? I don’t know,” a jubilant but emotional Usyk said after the fight. “I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children—I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest. But 38 is a young guy, remember! It’s only the start!”
The victory marks Usyk’s eighth triumph over a British opponent, extending a remarkable run that includes two wins over Anthony Joshua, two against Tyson Fury, and previous victories over Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora before dispatching Dubois in back-to-back fights.
Despite coming in at a career-heaviest 227.3 pounds, Usyk glided around the ring with trademark agility and precision. His technical superiority was evident from the opening bell as he evaded Dubois’ power punches with poise and punished him with pinpoint jabs and counterattacks.
Dubois, who had since claimed the IBF title and defended it against Anthony Joshua last September, struggled to impose his physicality. Usyk neutralized the Briton’s size advantage with movement, ring IQ, and sharp timing.
Though competitive early, the bout turned brutal in the fifth round. Usyk’s overhand right sent Dubois sprawling to the canvas. When the Briton managed to beat the count, a thunderous left hand to the chin moments later left the referee no choice but to wave it off.
With the win, Usyk once again sits atop the heavyweight division as the unified champion, having held all major belts across two weight classes in his illustrious career.
For now, the warrior from Ukraine is taking a well-earned pause.
“I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley—thank you so much! This is for the people,” he said.
While Usyk has hinted at taking time off, fans and pundits alike will be eager to see what lies ahead—whether it’s another mega-fight or the final chapter in a legacy already etched in boxing history.
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Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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