Britain Has A New Heavyweight World Champion

… is not the title you, I, or many others expected to read this Sunday morning. In fact, it isn’t actually true. Whether it should be, well, let’s talk. 

Daniel Dubois’ role last night was simple. Be the disruptor. 

Disrupt the flow of one of the world’s best fighters and disrupt the landscape of the heavyweight division. 

And, in some ways, that’s exactly what he did. 

However, it is Oleksandr Usyk who wakes up as the unified world champion. 

It was a night centered around the Ukrainian, who amongst a backdrop of heavy rainfall, was cheered to the ring by his adoring supporters. This is a man fighting for more than just belts. 

This is also a man who has mastered the art of boxing, with the opening portion of the fight an exhibition of fundamentals. 

A slippery Usyk worked off an accurate jab, as Dubois struggled to find his range. Anything the challenger did throw was met with a lightning counter. Usyk was well in control. 

Four rounds passed and it was a clean sweep thus far for Usyk. 

Then came the fifth, and then came the controversy. 

Dubois hurled a right hand towards the beltline of Usyk, leaving the champion wincing on the canvas. Referee Luis Pabon ruled the shot a low blow. 

In reality, unless he’s managed to tuck his bollocks in his bellybutton, the pain that Oleksandr Usyk felt was enough to have his three belts handed over to Daniel Dubois. 

Of course, us as viewers have the benefit of slo-mo, accompanied with 15 different ringside angles, which might make our conclusion slightly easier to come to rather than the one that Luis Pabon came to. 

Either way, Usyk was given 3 minutes and 45 seconds to recover from the body shot before jumping back into action. This was Dubois’ chance to make Usyk uncomfortable. 

But, instead of going pedal to the metal, Dubois hesitated, and Usyk ended the round having pushed the Brit back against the ropes. It was a brilliant show of resilience.   

Dubois did land a peach of a left hook to the body a round later, which Usyk sucked up. 

However, it looked as if Dubois had poked the tiger. 

Towards the end of round eight, Usyk finished off a combination with a temple blow that sent Dubois down. Luckily for him, the end of the round came a second after he rose. 

Then, not that he had any, his luck did run out. 

A savage right hand from Usyk dropped Dubois heavily. His attempt to beat the count was mild, as he sprung up on nine. Perhaps it was for his own good. 

So that was that. Appeals will be lodged, conversations will be had, and the debate will continue. But, it is the Ukrainian who has hold of the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles. 

I think it’s pretty simple. If you’re Dubois’ team it’s legal, if you’re Usyk’s team it’s illegal. 

One thing we must not distract from, however, is the reality that Dubois took the knee after being clipped by a jab. 

It’s not a word I like using, but I know you’re all thinking it. 

Just one simple night of boxing, that’s all I ask.

Oscar Bevis