Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois 2 Recap - Usyk knocks out Dubois in fifth round to seal undisputed heavyweight crown
Updated 19/07/2025 at 23:27 GMT+1
TNT Sports' live updates as WBA (Super), WBO and WBC champion Oleksandr Usyk demolished Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Dubois was seeking revenge, having been stopped by the unbeaten Usyk in 2023, but was dominated from the first bell and knocked down twice in the fifth round - the second time for a ten count. After vacating the IBF world title last year, Usyk takes the belt once more.
Exclusive: Usyk eyeing blockbuster ‘show fight’ with UFC star Pereira and tips Fury to return
Video credit: TNT Sports
USYK RUBBER-STAMPS GREATNESS WITH DUBOIS KO
Oleksandr Usyk's devastating display in knocking out Daniel Dubois in five rounds may be shown in evidence when his place in the pantheon of the best heavyweights of all time is debated.
Just as Muhammad Ali's punch-perfect destruction of Cleveland Williams is seen as his gold standard, this may well be considered Usyk's - so far.
As dangerous as Williams was, he was not at his peak nor riding the crest of a wave Dubois took to the ring.
The consensus before the fight was that Dubois could make life difficult for the 38-year-old legend early in the fight, after all he hurt his opponent to the body in their previous fight which of course was controversially ruled a low blow and delayed Usyk's recovery in the fifth round.
This time round, fittingly, it was Dubois on the canvas in the fifth, when he failed to beat the count of 10.
From the first bell as Dubois looked to close the distance on the now three-time undisputed champion, once at cruiserweight and twice at heavy, Usyk circled his opponent, landing his southpaw jab at will.
His dazzling footwork gave Dubois no time to feel comfortable in the ring, always tense and telegraphing his shots as the Brit ate regular left hands.
When Dubois did get through with his right, it was invariably followed by a sweeter left hand from Usyk which forced the usually indomitable fighter to retreat.
In the fifth round, Usyk, a little like Dubois himself when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in his last fight, was in the corner and potentially, to the layperson, might have seemed trapped.
Unlike Joshua, Dubois did not launch a kamikaze right hand, but it was enough of an opening for Usyk to land a left hand, followed by a right hook which put the Londoner down.
When Dubois rose to his feet, Usyk swarmed him and a left cross caught the IBF champion flush and he never looked like getting back up in time to continue the contest.
Joseph Parker or Tyson Fury probably loom as future fights for Usyk, though he sounded afterwards like this might have to wait until 2026, but whatever he chooses to do, the Ukrainian's legacy is secure - and was enhanced at Wembley Stadium.
WARREN: PARKER SHOULD BE NEXT
"Oleksandr Usyk is a generational great," Frank Warren said. "In any generation he would be a great fighter.
"The WBO ordered that he has to make his defence against Joe Parker, so it's Joe Parker's time."
DUBOIS PRAISES USYK FOR DISPLAY
"I have to commend him on the performance," Dubois said.
"I gave everything I had. A few things I could have sharpened up.
"I was just trying to pick things up round by round. I'm a fighting man, it is what it is.
"We'll go back to the drawing board and try again."
USYK: MAYBE FURY NEXT
"I'm a young guy, 38 is only the start," Usyk said in the ring after the victory.
"Next, I don't know...I want to rest. Derek [Chisora is] here, I don't know.
"I want to rest now, but maybe two or three.
"Maybe it's Tyson Fury.
"Maybe we have three options: Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker."
USYK LEGEND CONTINUES TO GROW
What a fighter he is. Dubois presented such a dangerous challenge but was made to look a hopeless amateur by the Ukrainian king.
USYK KNOCKS DUBOIS OUT IN FIFTH ROUND!
Dubois was backing Usyk in the corner and the Ukrainian responded with a counter right hand which put Dubois onto the seat of his pants. Dubois got to his feet but Usyk landed a combination of hooks with either hand, before a left sent the Londoner down to the canvas and he never looked like getting to his feet in time.
Just an incredible display from Usyk. One which will be remembered by anyone who watched it.
USYK-DUBOIS: ROUND 4
One good moment for Dubois in this round as he threw almost a bolo body shot which made Usyk wince and give a nod of acknowledgment. Other than that it was the same story with Usyk landing multiple shots with either hand and Dubois gulping for air.
USYK-DUBOIS: ROUND 3
A better round from Dubois but still easily Usyk's round. The Ukrainian lands a fantastic counter left hand which rocks Dubois back and then another one forces the Brit back. The Londoner lands more shots but is often a little off-balance when doing so and does not look to be putting a dent in Usyk.
USYK-DUBOIS: ROUND 2
It feels like Usyk solved the puzzle of Dubois in the first fight and he is picking up where he left off. He can't miss Dubois with his jab while the Brit is having no success with his left. Even on the couple of occasions when Dubois lands a right he is countered by a far crisper left hand from Usyk.
USYK-DUBOIS: ROUND 1
A great opener from Usyk, his footwork fantastic and landing southpaw jabs and hooks almost at will, while avoiding the attacks from the over-tense Dubois. DDD had some success when he trapped Usyk in the corner briefly but Usyk danced out of trouble and took control again.
ALL ON THE LINE...
WBC/WBA/WBO champion Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) takes on IBF champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs).
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE....
The immortal words send a chill down the spine of everyone at Wembley.
USYK NOW COMES OUT TO MIXED REACTION
Most are supporting the Brit of course but there is so much respect for him from British boxing fans.
DUBOIS MAKES HIS WAY TO THE RING
He comes out to 'Backbone' by Stormzy (Anthony Joshua's friend of course) and Chase & Status.
THE ANTHEMS ARE OVER...
The stadium will see the fighters in the flesh soon.
NEXT...THE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
It has been far from the best undercard, but excitement certainly ramps up now.
You have to think the first four rounds will be action-packed as Dubois looks to utilise his strength advantage and batter Usyk to the body. How much of a dent he puts inside the Ukrainian in the early rounds will decide whether the contest can go in the Brit's favour and he can become Britain's first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
OKOLIE WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION!
Okolie wins the fight 99-91 and 100-90 (twice).
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 10
Strangely Lerena does not look minded to take any serious risk and, unsurprisingly, Okolie is happy to control the fight from long range. Although its a good win (surely) from Okolie it has been a pretty unsatisfying contest.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 9
Lerena lands one good left hook, which really gets Okolie's attention, but it is hard to reward him when there was precious little else. Okolie's jab is mainly pawing but there are enough well-delivered shots from range and decent body shots which have been a feature of his show tonight.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 8
Lerena shows some ambition in the round, but Okolie generally is dealing with his attacks comfortably. Okolie is landing enough, mostly straight shots with the odd left hook to the body thrown in.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 7
Okolie looks far sharper in this round, landing good right hands early and backing it up with a wicked left hook to the body, which sees Lerena wilt a little. The rest of the round saw less action, but the early good work enough to extend Okolie's lead in the fight.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 6
Lerena throws his best shot of the contest with a left hand which rocks Okolie. That could well be the first round the South African has taken. Okolie landed more but nothing of the quality of that shot.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 5
Lerena is doing better nullifying Okolie's harder shots but is throwing little back in response. Maybe he is looking to take the fight into the later rounds. In fairness, Okolie is showing some signs of looking tired. Lerena finally bursts into some action after hearing the ten-second clapper.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 4
Okolie still takes the round but it was a bit more sloppy with a lot of holding.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 3
Total control from Okolie. The South African gets shouted out in the corner but it makes little difference as Okolie still dominates with his jab and often follows with a right hand, then seeking to end his work with a left hook to the body. A top class display so far.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 2
Okolie brings his uppercut into the game in this round, rocking Lerena's head back a few times. Very little coming back from the South African.
OKOLIE-LERENA: ROUND 1
A very good first round for Okolie. Tommy Hearns-like he is pawing with the jab, then crunching it through his opponents guard and, after initially following up with rights to the body he started bisecting his opponent's guard upstairs and hurt the South African a little with one of his shots. In close he is tying his opponent up too.
THE FIGHTERS ARE IN THE RING
Okolie does look the part of the heavyweight, though his legs maybe could fill out a little. This a real test tonight against a genuine gatekeeper of the elite big boys.
OKOLIE IN THE RING NEXT
In the penultimate fight of the night Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs) meets South African Kevin Lerena (31-3, 15 KOs) for the WBC silver heavweight belt he won last December. It will be a good test as the former cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion seeks to show he deserves a seat at the packed heavyweight table.
LAPIN WINS BY MAJORITY DECISION!
There are some howls of complaints but Lapin takes the fight 96-94 (twice), with the third 95-95. I think the cards giving it to Lapin are just about right.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 10
Lapin takes the last two rounds. The decent action only came in bursts, with Edmondson inbetween charging in without landing clean. Edmondson's team run in and celebrate on the bell. They think they have won the fight.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 9
Could that be the round where Lapin broke Edmondson? He dug deep to dominate the Brit forcing him backwards against the ropes and landing combinations. Edmondson is still throwing shots but they have less sting now.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 8
A crazy round with Lapin almost going over the ropes on three occasions. Edmondson, rightly, gets a talking to for rough housing. Not a great deal of quality in those three minutes.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 7
This is a hard fight to call. Lapin starts off well with his jab but Edmondson is doing the right thing and trying to rough the Ukrainian up and gets some joy, especially with a right hand.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 6
Lapin maybe a bit cleaner in this round, especially to the body, but Edmondson is still getting his shots off.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 5
Lapin for the most part landed the cleaner in this round but he looks wary of Edmondson who connects with a left hook himself in the last 30 seconds.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 4
We have a fight on here! Edmondson increasingly landed blows as the round went on and a left hook wobbled Lapin as much as we've seen in his career before. Lapin was also warned for holding. Definitely Edmondson's round.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 3
He is game Edmondson. Smartly choosing to fight in bursts and though he was out-boxed early in the round and cuffed by a good right hook in the last minute, the Brit ended the round the better landing a good left hook of his own and a right on the bell.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 2
Lappin showing his dominance now, circling Edmondson and landing his left hand, as a part of two or three punch combinations.
LAPIN-EDMONDSON: ROUND 1
A fairly quiet opener but already you can see how hard it will be for Edmondson to get through on Lappin, who controlled the round enough with his southpaw jab.
LAPIN ON HIS WAY TO THE RING
An ubiquitous figure on Usyk undercards, Lappin takes on unbeaten Bournemouth fighter Lewis Edmondson (11-0, 3 KOs) who, it must be said, is taking a big leap up in class tonight as he challenges for the IBF inter-continental title.
DACRES WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION!
Not many saw this coming. He takes the fight on all three cards: 99-91, 98-92 and 99-92.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 10
We surely have our first upset of the night. Once more Sirenko was tracking him around the ring but being caught more than he was catching the Brit who has surely won a wide points decision.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 9
Sirenko lands a few more uppercuts but unless the fight is extended to 15 rounds it is unlikely to bear fruit. Dacres lands the best shot of the penultimate round with a straight right which wobbled the Ukrainian a bit.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 8
Sirenko's best moment of the night as his left uppercut sees Dacres' gumshield come out. Strangely he points this out to the referee. Still some good moments for Dacres but he looks tired.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 7
Dacres is boxing with the confidence of a man who knows he is in the lead. A quieter round, but he still managed to land the punch of the fight, stepping back to create space for a right hand which landed flush on his opponent who you would think will fight with added desperation in the closing rounds.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 6
Another round in the bank for Dacres. It looks like a shut out so far. The only danger is he hasn't kept enough in the tank for the final four rounds.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 5
As pleasing as it is to see Dacres do well, this has been a disappointing show from Sirenko who keeps coming forward but in a plodding style you don't expect from an unbeaten contender.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 4
It is turning into pretty easy work for Dacres as he can't miss the square-on Sirenko with his jab. He always has that possibility of vulnerability though, Dacres, with his less than water-tight defence.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 3
It is an entertaining fight with Dacres looking to land the uppercut as his bull of his opponent desperately closes the distance. Dacres starts landing his right more as the round wears on but he takes a shot flush at the end of the round as a reminder of Sirenko's clear and present danger.
SIRENKO-DACRES: ROUND 2
Another impressive round for Dacres, mixing up his work to body and head and bossing the contest thus far. Maybe Sirenko's playing the long game considering it is a ten rounder.
SIRERNKO-DACRES: ROUND 1
A good opener for Dacres. Sirernko will bew hard to keep off all night but he controlled him well with the jab there to take the first.
SIRENKO-DACRES UP NEXT
The big boys are in action in a ten-rounder. Dacres returns to the ring for the first time since being stopped by David Adelaye last December.
HAMED WINS ON POINTS!
Hamed takes the contest 40-36.
HAMED-GREGORES: ROUND 4
Hamed lost his shape a little but early but landed a very nice uppercut with a minute left in the round which seemed to hurt Gregores for the first time in the contest. The easiest fight of the night to score. A shut out for Hamed. His dad gives him a standing ovation.
HAMED-GREGORES: ROUND 3
Hamed's round again. A little less convincing but landed enough jabs with straight lefts in the final 30 seconds putting his opponent on his back foot, though he takes a flush right hand on the bell.
HAMED-GREGORES: ROUND 2
Unsurprisingly the camera focuses on Naseem Hamed next to Frank Warren at ringside. Nothing to dislike, if not much exciting in the ring. Hamed is winning comfortably and in fairness easily dealing with his opponent, who is merely looking to spoil, and landed a nice left hand near the end of the round.
HAMED-GREGORES: ROUND 1
Not much of a test this for Hamed. He is using his jab at will, albeit not landing it with great power.
HAMED IS ON HIS WAY TO THE RING
A little lower key than his father and disappointingly he does not do a somersault vault over the top rope.
GURULI WINS BY TKO!
Francis' corner do the right thing and stop their chanrge coming out for the last round. No fighter likes to pulled out of a contest but he was only going to take more damage from this rising star who wins his second contest.
GURULI-FRANCIS: ROUND 5
Brutal shots from Guruli, especially a left uppercut, straight right, left uppercut combination which saw Francis' head rock back and the referee could well have stepped in to stop the contest.
GURULI-FRANCIS: ROUND 4
Francis came into the bout believing his could win but now he just wants to survive. He can't land on Guruli and is walking into shots from his impressive opponent.
GURULI-FRANCIS: ROUND 3
Francis' face is marking up awfully now, His left eye and mouth bleeding from Guruli's unerring jab and right hand.
GURULI-FRANCIS: ROUND 2
It is only a six-round contest but this is in danger of getting ugly early. Guruli is showing his full repertoire and landing on Francis at will.
GURULI-FRANCIS: ROUND 1
An entertaining opener with both boxers throwing but Guruli's increased class is showing already.
THE ACTION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
UK-based Lasha Guruli takes on James Francis in the first bout at Wembley this evening.
TONIGHT'S FIGHT CARD
There will be five hours of action before the big one gets underway. Here is the roll of bouts we can look forward to:
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois - Undisputed heavyweight title
Lawrence Okolie vs Kevin Lerena, 12-round heavyweight contest
Daniel Lapin vs Lewis Edmondson, 12-round light-heavyweight contest
Vladyslav Sirenko vs Solomon Dacres, 10-round heavyweight contest
Aadam Hamed vs Ezequiel Gregores, 4-round light-welterweight contest
Lasha Guruli vs James Francis, 6-round light-welterweight contest
HELLO AND WELCOME!
Thank you for joining our coverage of what could be a momentous night in British boxing as Daniel Dubois looks to become the first undisputed world champion since Lennox Lewis over two decades ago.
LEWIS SAYS USYK AMONG THE GREATS
Lennox Lewis said Usyk's decision to take on Dubois again is a "big risk" for the undefeated Ukrainian, and feels he is among the best to ever compete in the sport alongside the likes of Muhammed Ali and himself.
Read more from the former heavyweight champion below.
DUBOIS SEEKS REVENGE
Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live blog, as Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois meet once again at Wembley Stadium.
Dubois has revived his career since losing to Usyk, winning his last three fights and picking up an IFB title ahead of Saturday's rematch.
The Greenwich-born 27-year-old is looking to become Briton's first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999, while Usyk is aimimg to achieve the feat for the second time.
At the age of 38, Usyk is approaching the last days of a remarkable career. Can he maintain his spotless record?
Follow live updates, from around 9:50pm.
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