When Oleksandr Usyk stepped back into the ring for his highly anticipated rematch with Daniel Dubois, the question wasn’t just whether he would win—but how.
What unfolded was a five-round boxing masterclass that confirmed Usyk’s elite status and exposed the clear gulf in class between the two heavyweights.
Round One to Four: A Technical Takeover
From the opening bell, Usyk was in command. With his trademark slick footwork, razor-sharp jabs, and elusive movement, the Ukrainian tactician set the tone early. Dubois tried to assert pressure, but Usyk’s lateral movement and ring IQ neutralized any threat. Each round saw Usyk consistently outlanding Dubois, piling up points and frustrating his opponent.
By the end of Round 4, all three judges had Usyk comfortably ahead, with scorecards reflecting a dominant performance. TalkSport and The Sun both noted how Dubois looked increasingly bewildered as Usyk danced around him, landing clean shots while absorbing virtually none.
Round 5: The Breakdown Begins
Midway through Round 5, Usyk finally stepped up his tempo. Spotting an opening, he delivered a beautifully-timed right hand to Dubois’ temple, sending the Briton to one knee. The shot—swift, surgical, and devastating—was the first knockdown of the night.
Though Dubois beat the count, his legs told the story: the fight had shifted into survival mode for him. ESPN’s ringside commentator remarked that it was the beginning of the end.
The Left Hook Called “Ivan”
With Dubois still shaky, Usyk didn’t hesitate. Just moments after the restart, he unleashed a brutal straight left hand—a punch affectionately nicknamed “Ivan” by the Usyk camp—that connected flush. The impact was thunderous. Dubois crumbled to the canvas, and this time, he didn’t make the count.
The referee waved it off, and just like that, the fight was over. Sky Sports later called it “one of the cleanest finishes of Usyk’s heavyweight campaign.”
By the Numbers: A Fight of Unequal Firepower
The punch stats told their own story:
Usyk: 57 landed of 153 thrown (37.3% accuracy)
Dubois: 35 landed of 179 thrown (19.6% accuracy)
From efficiency to effectiveness, Usyk was superior in every metric. While Dubois swung more, he hit air far too often. Usyk, in contrast, was surgical—picking his shots and making them count.
Chess, Not Checkers: The Tactical Genius
Beyond the raw numbers and knockdowns, what truly separated Usyk was his tactical brilliance. As some Reddit boxing analysts pointed out, Usyk baited Dubois with deceptive movements—sometimes even backing himself into the corner—to lure him in and set up counters.
One user wrote: “Usyk backed into the corner on purpose… he invited Dubois in and then killed him with the counter.”
This chess-like approach left Dubois guessing, often reacting rather than initiating. Usyk dictated the pace, rhythm, and angles throughout.
The Verdict
Oleksandr Usyk didn’t just beat Daniel Dubois—he dismantled him. From controlling the ring early to executing a picture-perfect two-knockdown finish in Round 5, Usyk proved once again that his blend of brains, bravery, and balance makes him one of boxing’s most complete fighters.
As the dust settles on this rematch, one thing is clear: Usyk’s mastery isn’t just in the punches he throws—it’s in the ones his opponents never see coming.
