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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U.S. immigration authorities have arrested Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Los Angeles and plan to deport him, they said on Thursday, just days after he lost a high-profile bout to American rival Jake Paul.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Chavez was determined to be in the country illegally last week after he made fraudulent statements on a 2024 application for permanent residence. He is married to a U.S. citizen, it said.

Michael Goldstein, a lawyer for Chavez, said more than two dozen immigration agents arrested the boxer at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on Wednesday.

“The current allegations are outrageous and appear to be designed as a headline to terrorize the community,” Goldstein said.

Homeland Security said that the 39-year-old boxer, son of Mexican world champion fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, is suspected of ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organization.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. speaks at press conference in anticipation of his fight against Jake Paul at Avalon Hollywood Theater. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/File Photo

His wife, Frida Munoz Chavez, was previously married to the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison. The son, Edgar, was assassinated in 2008.

Chavez is the target of a Mexican arrest warrant on allegations of involvement in organized crime and firearms trafficking, DHS said.

In Mexico, Chavez’ family said in a statement they “fully trust in his innocence.”

Chavez lost to influencer-turned-boxer Paul, 28, last weekend before a sold-out crowd in Anaheim, California, in a unanimous decision after 10 rounds.

He was allowed to enter the United States temporarily in early January under former President Joe Biden, DHS said. He had previously overstayed a tourist visa, it said.

The agency said Chavez was convicted in Los Angeles in 2024 on weapons charges. Goldstein denied he was convicted, saying he pleaded not guilty and was granted mental health diversion which will result in dismissal of the charges.

Chavez won the WBC middleweight championship in 2011, but lost the title the next year.

His career has been overshadowed by controversies including a suspension after testing positive for a banned substance in 2009 and a fine and suspension after testing positive for marijuana in 2013.

His record stands at 54 wins, six losses and one draw, with 34 knockouts.

Reporting by Brendan O’Brien and Bhargav Acharya, Lizbeth Diaz, Angelica Medina, Diego Ore and Kylie Madry in Mexico City, Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot

-Reuters

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 Manny Pacquiao will come out of retirement to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship on July 19 in Las Vegas, the 46-year-old Filipino boxer said on Wednesday.

Pacquiao is the only boxer to win world championships in a record eight weight divisions while he was also the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40 in 2019.

A Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022, Pacquiao had retired from boxing in 2021 while he also ran for president in 2022.

“I’m back. On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history,” Pacquiao wrote on Instagram.

The southpaw, who has 62 wins, eight losses and two draws in a 72-fight career, was also elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Barrios, a Mexican-American boxer, has 29 wins in 32 bouts, winning 18 by knockout and losing twice.

-Reuters

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