Ukrainian Boxer Oleksandr Usyk Awarded WBC’s Best Knockout of 2025 for Defeating Dubois

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk was recognized by the World Boxing Council (WBC) for delivering the best knockout of 2025.

According to the WBC on January 20, this recognition comes after his performance in the second fight against British boxer Daniel Dubois, where he knocked out his opponent in the fifth round.

Usyk knocked out Dubois with a powerful punch, which the boxer himself called “Ivan,” as reported by Suspilne Sport.

In the fifth round, Usyk sent Dubois to the canvas with a series of headshots. Once Dubois regained his footing, Usyk landed another powerful combination to the head and body, which knocked Dubois out. The referee halted the fight when Dubois failed to react to the count.

While Usyk lost his undisputed title in November 2025 after vacating the WBO belt, he retains the status of unified champion, holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles.

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“Usyk proved that, in addition to masterful technique, he also possesses finishing power. The Ukrainian spectacularly stopped a giant like Dubois with a punch that served as the perfect exclamation point to a formidable heavyweight performance,” said the WBC's list of winners.

After the fight, Usyk shared that this punch was developed with his team back in 2018 in the United States when he was competing in the cruiserweight division, according to Suspilne Sport. However, it was only in his second fight against Dubois that he was able to execute it.

Additionally, this is not the first time Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has been recognized with such an honor. Last time, the World Boxing Council named him the 2024 Fighter of the Year.

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“Usyk has consistently showcased his exceptional skills beyond Ukraine, making a significant global impact on the sport,” the WBC remarked.

In 2024, Usyk solidified his legacy by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion after defeating UK’s Tyson Fury twice, successfully defending his WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO titles.

Earlier, at the Venice Film Festival, director Benny Safdie unveiled his latest film The Smashing Machine, featuring Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk in a prominent role. The world premiere was greeted with a 15-minute standing ovation.

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