Few sports align themselves with the literary tradition as readily as boxing does, in all its beguiling brutality. After Daniel Dubois was brought to earth by Oleksandr Usyk's educated fists on Saturday night at a packed Wembley, one famous quote came to mind.
“There are only two tragedies in life," Oscar Wilde wrote in Lady Windermere's Fan. "One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”
Ever since Dubois lost his initial fight with Usyk in August 2023, he and his entourage have raged and lobbied against the injustice of it all. Usyk was a comfortable winner, beating a man 11 years his junior into submission in nine rounds. But all of the post-fight focus from Team Dubois was on the flashpoint in round five, when Usyk crumbled to the floor from a shot to the protector that was ruled illegal by the referee.
"Daniel should be the champion," their story went. It didn't really check out in the cold light of day, but Dubois insisted he wanted and deserved another crack at Usyk. This desire fueled his fantastic wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, as well as a truly jaw-dropping demolition of Anthony Joshua.
After Usyk had taken care of business against Tyson Fury twice, at the expense of the IBF belt that was stripped from him and handed to Dubois, the resurgent Brit was the natural next opponent for the finest big man of his generation.
Dubois pledged "chaos," but bashing up fellow two-dimensional big men is all well and good when Usyk arrives as the grandmaster playing 4D chess. From the opening bell, the 38-year-old established his southpaw jab to head and body. There was also spite in the left hands that Dubois received most times he stepped into the fire.
The first two rounds were exhibition stuff from Usyk. Dubois took centre ring and boxed more authoritatively in the third, but he failed to land the jab that so rattled Joshua. Usyk continued to time him, pulling back and landing the counter lefts that would ultimately signal his opponent's demise.
In the concluding fifth, Usyk found Dubois' chin again. The IBF champ sought to rush his way out of trouble and back Usyk into the corner, but he shipped a short right hook he did not see and crumpled.
Dubois groggily beat the count but must have recognised a hopeless situation. Dutifully, he tried to trade, searching for the miracle punch to turn things around. In response, Usyk found a magical one. Dubois left himself squared up and shipped a perfect left hook at full extension that slammed into his jaw.
The two-weight, three-time undisputed champion of the world prevailed after he came for a fight against arguably the biggest puncher in the division. Like it or not, Daniel Dubois got exactly what he wanted.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 full card results
- Oleksandr Usyk (c) def. Daniel Dubois (c) to retain the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles and regain the IBF heavyweight title
- Lawrence Okolie def. Kevin Lerena (UD 10); Heavyweights
- Daniel Lapin def. Lewis Edmondson (MD 10); Light Heavyweights
- Solomon Dacres def. Vladyslav Sirenko (UD 10); Heavyweights
- Aadam Hamed def. Ezequiel Gregores (PTS 4); Welterweights
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 tune-in info
- Stream: DAZN
- PPV price: $59.99 (US)/ £24.99 (UK)
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 will be available on DAZN.
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