Alexander admitted that he expected AJ to win.
WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO heavyweight champion Alexander Usyk commented on the short-term victory of IBF title holder Daniel Dubois over Anthony Joshua.
According to the Ukrainian boxer, the result of the fight was a surprise for him. Oleksandr, who was watching the fight at the Wembley Arena in London, admitted that he expected AJ to win.
“This is boxing. For me it was surprising, I expected Anthony to win,” Usyk said.
“For me it was surprising, I expected Anthony to win”
Oleksandr Usyk reacts to Daniel Dubois 'kock-out victory over Anthony Joshua #JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/WEL9kyaKSU
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) September 21, 2024
When asked by one of the journalists whether Usyk was impressed by Dubois' performance, the Ukrainian answered in the affirmative.
“Yes. A good performance,” Alexander said succinctly.
️ Oleksandr Usyk's IMMEDIATE review of Daniel Dubois stopping Anthony Joshua!
https://t.co/82ISOh5H90 #JoshuaDubois #Boxing pic.twitter.com/ebbDGgm9CQ
— Boxing Social (@boxing_social) September 21, 2024
Dubois knocked Joshua out in the fifth round. Before that, Anthony had been knocked down three times – in the first, third and fourth rounds.
For Dubois, this was the first defense of his world champion title in his career. Earlier, Daniel, who defeated Croatian Filip Hrgovic ahead of schedule in a fight for the interim IBF title, was promoted to a full champion of the organization after former absolute world champion Oleksandr Usyk refused this belt.
So it is Dubois who remains the holder of one of the four main belts in the heavyweight division. The other three titles (WBA, WBO, WBC) belong to Usyk, who will have a rematch against Tyson Fury on December 21, 2024.
The 27-year-old Dubois now has 22 wins (21 by knockout) and two losses, which he suffered from Usyk in 2023 and his compatriot Joe Joyce in 2020.
The 34-year-old Joshua suffered the fourth defeat of his career. Before that, AJ lost to Andy Ruiz in 2019, and lost to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.