Controversy surrounds the Dubois vs. Usyk fight as opinions are divided on whether Dubois’ punch was a low blow. Read more to find out what the professionals think.
| Boxer | Opinion |
|---|---|
| Michael Hunter | Believes the body shot was not low |
| Josh Taylor | Considers the punch legal, landed on the belt |
| Liam Smith | Thinks the punch was low, but questions whether Usyk would have stayed down if the referee had started counting |
| Tony Bellew | Supports the referee’s decision, states that anything below the belly button is classified as a low blow |
The boxing community is divided on whether Dubois’ punch was a low blow. While some professionals believe it was a legal shot, others argue that it was below the belt. Usyk took full advantage of the time given to him for recovery, but the outcome of the fight remains unchanged. It is uncertain whether Dubois will be granted a rematch based on this situation.
Last night, we reported that the fifth round of the Dubois vs. Usyk fight would be a hot topic in boxing circles. At the beginning of the fifth round, Dubois landed a punch on Usyk that the referee deemed a low blow, giving Usyk several minutes to recover. Dubois, his promoter Frank Warren, and trainer Don Charles vehemently protested after the fight, with Warren announcing that he would file an appeal to overturn the outcome of the match. Usyk, of course, disagrees with their claims, and it’s always interesting to see what the professionals think.
Michael Hunter, a well-known American heavyweight who was once linked to Hrgović as a potential opponent, wrote, ‘That body shot was not low.’ Hunter’s only loss in his career came in 2017 at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.
Josh Taylor, the former undisputed world champion in the super lightweight division, also weighed in on Dubois’ controversial punch. Like Hunter, Taylor believes it was a legal blow. ‘That shot landed on the belt. Perfectly legal shot in my opinion,’ Taylor tweeted.
‘The punch landed on the body, nowhere near his (Usyk’s) testicles. It basically landed on his belly button, which was covered by the protective cup. Body shot!’ emphasized Josh Taylor.
The opinions are clearly divided, as evidenced by Liam Smith, another prominent English professional boxer. Smith is convinced that it was an illegal blow. ‘The punch was low, regardless of whether Usyk raised his protection too high (which should have been addressed at the beginning of the fight if Dubois’ team felt the protection was too high). The protector is right below the waistband. Usyk took full advantage of the time given to him for recovery, but no one knows if he would have stayed down if the referee had started counting,’ Smith stated.
Tony Bellew, the former world champion in the cruiserweight division, provided a more detailed explanation and agrees with the referee’s decision to deem the punch illegal. ‘Anything below the belly button is classified as a low blow in boxing! That’s not my opinion, that’s a FACT! Those are the rules! Your trunks should not cover your belly button because if they do, it’s possible to receive a punch in the waist area. This picture speaks a thousand words!’ Bellew wrote. However, fans quickly responded with pictures from the fight itself, explaining that Usyk immediately lowered his trunks below the belly button. What can we say, except that the boxing community will clearly be divided on this issue. Whether Dubois will secure a rematch based on this situation is hard to say. Usyk was dominant in every round of this fight, and we doubt the audience would be interested in another showdown between the two of them.