Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois were indeed set to meet in a highly anticipated rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium in London on July 19, two years after their first encounter. This monumental clash, initially announced in April 2025, has since taken place, delivering a decisive outcome that further cemented Usyk’s legacy and reshaped the landscape of the heavyweight division.
The journey to this rematch was paved with controversy from their initial bout. The unbeaten Ukrainian, Oleksandr Usyk, who at the time held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and Ring Magazine unified heavyweight titles, emerged victorious when the two last met in Poland on August 26, 2023, stopping Daniel Dubois in the ninth round.
The Controversial First Encounter
Their first professional boxing match, held at Stadion Wrocław in Wrocław, Poland, on August 26, 2023, was a pivotal moment for both fighters. Usyk, with a pre-fight record of 20-0 with 13 knockouts, was defending his unified titles against Dubois, who entered the ring with a record of 19-1 with 18 knockouts and held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title. The bout wasn’t without significant controversy, as Dubois landed a shot in the fifth round that dropped Usyk. However, referee Luis Pabon ruled it a low blow, granting Usyk several minutes to recover. Replays of the punch sparked intense debate among fans and pundits, with many arguing that the shot, which appeared to land on Usyk’s waistband, should have been deemed legal, potentially denying Dubois a victory.
Following the defeat, the British heavyweight and his team immediately called for a rematch, believing he had been robbed of what would have been the biggest victory of his career. “I didn’t think that was a low blow, I think that landed and I’ve been cheated out of victory tonight,” said Dubois in a post-fight interview. The 27-year-old also expressed his disappointment in an interview with TalkSport, stating that the shot had been part of his preparation leading into the contest. “I feel like I was robbed of an opportunity, that shot was definitely not low. The whole world could see, he was crippled by the body shot, I feel like I lost momentum, I became disheartened a little bit, we were practicing the body shots and we pulled it off.” Despite protests and a formal appeal lodged with the WBA by Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren, the WBA upheld the original decision, maintaining that the shot was clearly illegal.
Oleksandr Usyk and his camp maintained that the shot was clearly illegal, in a contest that was largely dominated by the southpaw. At the post-fight press conference, Usyk and his promoter Alex Krassyuk dismissed media questions about the punch, with the Ukrainian joking that he might not bother wearing shorts in his next fight if such shots were deemed legal, before adding that he would be ready for a street fight rematch the very next day.
Road to Redemption: Dubois’ Resurgence and Usyk’s Undisputed Reign
Between the controversial first encounter and the eagerly anticipated rematch, both fighters embarked on significant paths. Daniel Dubois, determined to prove his worth, rebuilt his career with impressive victories. He defeated Jarrell Miller in December 2023 by technical knockout, followed by a TKO win over Filip Hrgovic in June 2024 for the IBF interim heavyweight title. This led to a major opportunity when Oleksandr Usyk, after defeating Tyson Fury in December 2024 to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, vacated his IBF belt. Consequently, Dubois was elevated to full IBF world champion in June 2024. He successfully defended this title against former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua on September 21, 2024, securing a fifth-round knockout victory at Wembley Stadium.
Meanwhile, Usyk’s journey saw him unify all four major heavyweight titles by defeating Tyson Fury via unanimous decision on December 21, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This made him the most recent lineal heavyweight champion and a unified champion in two weight classes (cruiserweight and heavyweight). With Usyk holding the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine titles, and Dubois holding the IBF title, the stage was perfectly set for a true undisputed heavyweight championship rematch.
The Wembley Showdown and Undisputed Glory
The highly anticipated rematch, billed as “Undisputed,” took place on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London. The stakes were incredibly high, with the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring undisputed heavyweight championship on the line. Usyk, entering with an undefeated record of 23-0 (14 KOs), faced Dubois, whose record stood at 22-2 (21 KOs). The fight saw Usyk once again demonstrate his exceptional skill and movement. In the fifth round, Usyk first sent Dubois to the canvas with a stunning right hook to the temple. After Dubois bravely returned to his feet, Usyk delivered a decisive knockout blow with a flush left hook, leaving no doubt about the outcome. Referee Mike Griffin counted Dubois out, and the towel was also thrown in, securing Usyk’s victory via fifth-round knockout.
This emphatic win marked a historic achievement for Oleksandr Usyk, as he regained the undisputed title he had briefly held from May to June 2024, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. This rare feat placed him in an elite category alongside boxing legend Muhammad Ali. At the time of the stoppage, the judges’ scorecards read 40–36, 39–37, and 39–37, all in favor of Usyk. CompuBox statistics further highlighted Usyk’s dominance, showing he landed 57 of 153 punches thrown (37.3%) compared to Dubois’ 35 of 179 (19.6%).
Aftermath and Future of the Heavyweight Division
With the rematch now in the history books, Oleksandr Usyk stands as an undisputed force in heavyweight boxing. His professional record remains unblemished at 24 wins and 0 losses, with 15 victories coming by knockout. Usyk’s victory over Dubois solidified his status as “the standout heavyweight of his generation” and the “best heavyweight of this era,” having defeated leading rivals like Tyson Fury,
