Daniel Dubois’ promoter, Frank Warren, has finalised and sent his appeal against the low blow in his man’s unified world heavyweight title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk.
The Brit’s one pocket of success in the fight was a fifth round shot that referee Luis Pabon immediately called illegal. Usyk was given over three minutes to recover and, when he did so, promptly took back control to go on to win by ninth round stoppage.
It’s a moment that Warren, Dubois and trainer Don Charles believe ‘cheated them out of’ the world titles, and something they were adamant from the off that they would fight against.
In an interview with Seconds Out released yesterday, the veteran promoter confirmed that all of the evidence was being finalised and sent to the WBA by close of play.
“The appeal is being lodged today. It’s being finalised and will be with them today as per their appeal process, their regulations. So they’ll get it today and they’re going to have to hear it.”
Warren went on to say that ‘the worst case scenario’ in his mind was a rematch – seemingly not even considering that the sanctioning body may rule that the result stands and no further action is to be taken.
“I’d like them to do the right thing, and I think the worst case scenario is that they call a rematch for the fight … The governing bodies will have to sort [the timing] out between them. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be [immediate.]”
“I don’ think they will [call a no contest] being realistic. I’d like them to, but I don’t think they will.”
Dubois’ side believe they have built enough evidence to conclude that the punch was legal – something that others have so far been unable to.
“He deserves a rematch. The more you look at it and analyse it, obviously I’ve been doing that and also the lawyers look at it. And other people have seen things in it.
Respected people in trade who are neutrals, nothing to do with the outside or haters or anything. You can demonstrate in various ways through footage and photographs where the punch landed.”
The other side are just as confident of the appeal being futile – Usyk’s side say there is zero chance it has any affect on the result of the fight.