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Frank Warren has vowed to appeal Daniel Dubois’ world heavyweight title defeat to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night and force a rematch.
Usyk dropped his British opponent twice in round nine before the referee stopped the fight. The Ukrainian was able to retain his WBA, WBO and IBF belts while setting up a potential unification bout with Tyson Fury in the future.
But the manner of his victory in Wroclaw, Poland, means that might not be the case, with Usyk having hit the canvas in the fifth following a body shot from Dubois.
Referee Luis Pabon immediately ruled the punch a low blow in a now controversial decision which allowed Usyk just under four minutes to recover before continuing the fight.
READ MORE: Oleksandr Usyk knocks out Daniel Dubois – but fans think Brit won it with low blow
The Ukrainian was able to dominate his opponent from that point on, while replays suggested the punch may have landed on the belt line instead of below it. And the consensus on social media was that the Londoner was “robbed”, while Dubois’ camp revealed their intention to lobby for a no-contest.
Dubois’ promoter Warren gave a damning view of the referee’s call, stating the Puerto Rican referee got it “badly wrong” and calling it a “hometown decision” in front of a Polish crowd mostly favouring Usyk.
Do you think Daniel Dubois was robbed of a victory against Usyk? Let us know in the comments section.
The 71-year-old said: “This is a boxing match and should be above board, but it was not a low blow. It’s a nonsense, a total nonsense. The governing bodies must order a rematch.
"He [Dubois] won that, if he had been allowed to carry on, he would have won. We will appeal this. It’s a liberty.”
Meanwhile, Dubois fumed post-fight: "I don't think that was a low blow. I think that landed and I've been cheated out of victory tonight. What else can I say?"
Usyk dismissed the appeals, stating the Brit had “no power, only on my balls.”
He continued: “Boxing is tough, but I’m great. It’s boxing I love and I respect my opponent. But it’s boxing, it’s not ballet. It’s boxing.”
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Boxing
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