August 27th 2023.
The decision to rule the fifth-round punch a low blow in the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois fight has split opinion and caused a great deal of controversy. 25-year-old Brit, Daniel Dubois, expressed his shock and disappointment when the referee ruled the punch – which landed on the belt line – as a low blow, and was given five minutes to recover.
After the fight, Dubois told TNT Sports: “I didn’t think that was a low blow, I thought it landed and that I’ve been cheated out of victory. I’ve been cheated out of it tonight.” His promoter, Frank Warren, believes Dubois was unfairly treated and plans to appeal to the WBA, expecting a rematch. He promised reporters: “We’d not just like to speak to them, they’re gonna get their door kicked in! We’re gonna be there and say, ‘Look at that, this is the rules meeting, we want a rematch!’ Otherwise there’s going to be a problem, because I’m not going to stand for that. I’ve got to do the best for my fighter and protect my fighter’s interests and he won that fight.”
The Ukrainian team were adamant that the correct decision had been made. They presented a picture which suggested the punch was on the low side. Usyk’s cutman, Russ Abner, explained that the belly button is the line for a legal blow, and anything below it is a low blow. Usyk even lifted up his shirt at one point to show the exact line of the waistband.
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, clarified that low blows are discussed when the referee and inspectors come in to the locker room and give the rules. He said: “Normally, at the rules meeting it is discussed that if someone hits a fighter on purpose below the belt he has to be punished for two points. If he does it again, he can be disqualified upon the discretion of the referee.”
The controversy surrounding the punch has certainly caused a stir and opinions are divided. Both teams are adamant that they are in the right and it is now up to the WBA to make a decision. Will there be a rematch or will the result remain as is? We will just have to wait and see.
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