Usyk crowned undisputed champ after epic win over Dubois: Fight of century highlights
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois (photo: Getty Images)
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois in an intense and spectacular rematch at a packed Wembley Stadium. The Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in the four-belt era, claiming the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF titles, according to the broadcast of the boxing match that the media previously dubbed the fight of the century.
How the Usyk vs. Dubois rematch unfolded
Before the fight began, Nadya Dorofeeva performed the Ukrainian National Anthem a cappella. It was incredibly powerful!
Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring initially to Ave Maria performed by Tommee Profitt and Stanaj - a modern interpretation of the classic prayer - which then seamlessly transitioned into Vasyl Zhadan’s song “Brattia” - a track that millions associate with Usyk’s ring entrance.
The fight began with the expected pressure from Dubois. Remembering the controversial low blow in their first match, the Briton targeted Usyk’s body from the early rounds, using his size advantage. Usyk, in turn, fought cautiously, working on his feet.
The first three rounds were mostly tactical, but Usyk was still more convincing.
The turning point came in the fifth round. Oleksandr found his rhythm and began breaking down the Briton’s defense with his signature multi-punch combinations. Usyk’s speed and boxing intelligence became an unsolvable challenge for Dubois.
The Briton started taking more clean hits, slowed down, and lost confidence. This led to two knockdowns and ultimately a knockout!
Thus, Usyk needed just 15 minutes to secure the victory!
Usyk defeated Dubois (screenshot / DAZN).
Usyk currently has 24 professional fights under his belt, with 24 wins and zero losses.
A sweet detail to note: Usyk entered the fight carrying a talisman from his daughter - a toy lion named Liola, which gives him strength and inspiration.
After the fight, thousands of Ukrainians congratulated Usyk on social media, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He thanked Oleksandr for the strength and inspiration that the champion gives to the whole country with every one of his victories.
"Thank you for carrying Ukraine in your heart every fight. Congratulations on the victory - to you, the country, and everyone who cheered," Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook.
How much money did Usyk and Dubois earn?
The fight between Usyk and Dubois became the most lucrative in the careers of both the Ukrainian and the Brit.
According to insiders, the total prize fund for the bout reached an incredible amount of over $200 million, of which Usyk is set to receive the lion’s share - 65% of the total fund, or about $132.28 million (more than 5.5 billion hryvnias!). His opponent earned 35%, around $71.22 million.
These sums bring both boxers to an entirely new financial level. For both athletes, these are career records. Previously, Usyk’s highest purse was $114 million for his rematch fight against Tyson Fury.
For Dubois, this earning is an even bigger leap, as his previous record was only about $13 million, earned from the fight against Anthony Joshua.
Such astronomical sums became possible thanks to Usyk’s global popularity, the huge ticket sales at Wembley, broadcast rights, and the global demand for pay-per-view (PPV) - today’s fight was watched by boxing fans in over 100 countries.
Interesting facts from Usyk’s biography
Oleksandr was born in Simferopol. His path to the top began with a brilliant amateur career, the pinnacle of which was winning gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
However, in his youth, his main passion was not boxing but... football. He trained seriously at the Tavriya football school, played as a left midfielder, and showed great promise. But at age 15, his path to professional football was blocked - his family could not afford the expensive training. That’s when Usyk joined a boxing club, which was free, and that’s where his legendary career began.
His Olympic victory was memorable not only for the gold medal. After the final fight, Usyk, who fought with a traditional Cossack hairstyle, an oseledets (a topknot), danced a fiery hopak right in the ring. This vivid display of Ukrainian identity became Usyk’s trademark.
He continues this tradition to this day, regularly appearing at press conferences and official events wearing vyshyvankas (traditional embroidered shirts) or other elements of Ukrainian national costume, each time emphasizing his roots on the world stage.
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
Behind the image of a tough fighter lies a sensitive and creative nature. Usyk writes poetry, often dedicated to his wife Kateryna. His verses are filled with reflections on life, faith, and love. Additionally, he has tried his hand at acting: he voiced a character in the Ukrainian animated film The Stolen Princess: Ruslan and Lyudmila and even had a small role in a Hollywood movie.
Unlike many sports stars, Usyk’s personal life is an example of stability and devotion. He has known his wife Kateryna since school - they sat at neighboring desks. Together, they have gone through the entire journey from the first steps in sports to worldwide fame.
Today, they are raising four children and are one of the strongest couples in Ukrainian sports, which once again highlights the importance of family values for the champion.
Oleksandr Usyk with his wife (photo: Getty Images)
Interesting facts from Dubois’ biography
Daniel grew up in a large family - he has 10 brothers and sisters. The driving force behind the entire clan is his father, Dave Dubois, who made his first millions selling posters on the streets of London.
From an early age, he saw his children as future champions and invested everything into them. Because of boxing, Daniel didn’t even attend regular school - his father switched him to homeschooling so that nothing would distract him from training.
The father’s idea to create a boxing dynasty has paid off. Daniel’s younger sister, Caroline Dubois, is one of the most talented female boxers in the world and a WBC champion.
Interestingly, as a child, to get into the boxing gym, she pretended to be a boy named Colin, since girls were reluctantly allowed in. She has won the Youth Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships. Their brother, Prince, is also involved in boxing.
In 2020, Dubois suffered the first defeat of his career against Joe Joyce. But it wasn’t just a loss. Joyce methodically targeted Dubois’ left eye, and in the tenth round, Dubois took a knee, refusing to continue the fight.
The diagnosis later shocked everyone: a double fracture of the eye socket and nerve damage. Doctors said that if he had taken a few more hits, he could have permanently lost his sight. While some accused him of cowardice, in reality, he saved both his career and his health.
Daniel Dubois (photo: Getty Images)
Daniel’s promoter is none other than the legendary and sometimes controversial Don King. The 93-year-old veteran, who once managed Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield, took the British fighter under his wing. This pairing looks remarkable: a young knockout artist alongside a boxing patriarch from a bygone era. However, their relationship hasn’t been without conflict — a few years ago, Dubois even sued King over unpaid fees.
Interestingly, outside the ring, the Dynamite transforms into his opposite. He is a quiet, somewhat awkward, and shy person. His favorite hobby, which helps the 27-year-old Brit cope with pressure, is fishing. This love for peace and solitude in nature sharply contrasts with his explosive and aggressive style in the ring, revealing two completely different sides of his personality.
The rematch against Usyk was Dubois’s main chance to prove his place among the elite, and he fought valiantly, but against a boxing genius, his strength was not enough.
Daniel Dubois (photo: Getty Images)
Records Usyk broke today
Today’s victory was not just another title defense. It was a historic moment in world boxing with several unique achievements.
Undisputed champion in two weight classes
Usyk became one of the few fighters in history (and the third after Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue in the four-belt era) to become an undisputed champion in two different divisions. Achieving this in both cruiserweight and heavyweight is a feat that places him alongside the legendary Evander Holyfield.
First undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era
Although Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed champion, that was during the era of three major titles. Usyk is the first to unify the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF belts, becoming the sole and unquestioned king of the division.
Solidifying his Pound-for-Pound status
This victory removes any remaining doubts about who is the best boxer in the world regardless of weight class.
What’s next for Usyk’s career?
The future of Oleksandr after such a historic triumph has several possible directions.
Trilogy with Tyson Fury
This is the most obvious and commercially attractive option. A third fight with the Gypsy King could become an epic conclusion to one of the greatest sagas in boxing history.
Mandatory title defenses
Boxing organizations (IBF, WBO, and others) will line up their mandatory challengers. Usyk will have to either defend his titles or vacate them.
Farewell fight in the cage
The Ukrainian and his team are in preliminary talks with American star Jake Paul about a possible MMA bout. This fight could become a grand finale in Oleksandr’s professional career.
Retirement
Usyk has repeatedly said that his main goal was to become an undisputed champion. Having reached this peak at age 38, defeating all the strongest opponents, he has every right to retire as an undefeated king. That would be the perfect ending to a legendary career, allowing him to devote time to his family and his country.
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
