WROCLAW, Poland: After a controversial win to retain his heavyweight boxing titles, Oleksandr Usyk had a message for Tyson Fury. “I’m ready tomorrow,” the Ukrainian declared on Saturday when asked about a long-awaited and elusive unification fight with Fury.
This was after Usyk stopped British challenger Daniel Dubois in the ninth round. That win followed a disputed low blow which gave the Ukrainian champion time to recover.
Fighting for the first time in more than a year and cheered on by fans waving Ukrainian flags, Usyk knocked down Dubois in the eighth round.
Referee Luis Pabon stopped the fight when Usyk dumped him again in the ninth with a stiff right to the jaw. The fight was halted in the fifth round for what Pabon ruled was a low blow by Dubois which sent Usyk to the canvas, where he sat against the ropes.