Oleksandr Usyk retained his unified heavyweight titles over Daniel Dubois via a ninth round stoppage in Poland – but it’s a shot in the fifth that will dominate the conversation in the aftermath.
Dubois went to the Ukrainian’s body and he hit the canvas. It was immediately called illegal by the referee, and Usyk all the time given to him – almost four minutes – to recover.
In the aftermath, Dubois’ team branded the result a robbery, believing their man hit a perfectly legal punch to the body. Usyk’s side remain adamant that it was below the belt – or below the point specified by the referee beforehand.
So the big question now in boxing is low or legal? Here are some fighters opinions on the matter.
Liam Smith
It WAS low, weather his protector is high or not(which should of been pulled at the start of the fight if team Dubious felt it was high) it’s just below waistband. Ye, Usyk milked the time he was allowed but, no one can answer weather he stays down it the ref counts it.
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) August 26, 2023
Anthony Yarde
That was NOT a low blow imo #UsykDubois
— Anthony Yarde (@mranthonyyarde) August 26, 2023
Dave Coldwell
Looking at this you can actually see it’s below the belt line.
Some of the glove on it, but the large chunk of the fist below the belt line. #UsykDubois pic.twitter.com/snpPWYHhad— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) August 26, 2023
Charlie Edwards
More you watch it. It’s low for me. Don’t understand the major argument about it. It was well on the protector and on the waste line and below. I get Daniel is the TNT fighter. It’s a business.
— Charlie Edwards ? (@CEdwardsBoxing) August 26, 2023
Paul Smith
Chris, the belt isn’t always legal mate. The ref usually states where’s good and isn’t. You can see usyk belly button now & then through fight. Dubois belt was legal because his protector is up nearer his chest. That shot was in the bladder if that’s not low I don’t know what is https://t.co/2T8kHUpxr5
— Paul Smith (@PaulSmithJnr) August 26, 2023
Stephen Espinoza
Not a low blow, IMO.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) August 26, 2023
Michael Conlan
I don’t think the shot was low, it was borderline. Please relax with DDD should be champion of the world because of that, if he was to be counted, he’d of got up. #UsykDubois
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 26, 2023
Sunny Edwards
https://twitter.com/SunnyEdwards/status/1695561937566769476?t=SjY02406LsoC8Uxlc_7Jmw&s=31
Josh Taylor
Dubois should be champion after that body shot, definitely wasn’t a low blow.
Usyk didn’t like and took full advantage of the time given to recover.
Did Dubois give up there &
Quit or was it just a great Jab?— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) August 26, 2023
Michael Hunter
That body shot was not low. #UsykDubois
— Michael Hunter ll (@MichaelHunterII) August 26, 2023
Tony Bellew
Anything below the naval is classed as low in boxing! That’s not my opinion that’s a FACT! That’s the rules! Your shorts shouldn’t cover your naval cos if they do the belt can be hit! This picture says a thousand words! Spew it once and you’ll spew it again is also another fact! pic.twitter.com/JDdfJxdGrE
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) August 26, 2023
