Notebook: Dubois appeals to WBA seeking to overturn Usyk result
Appeal details; Jamel Herring comeback specifics; 'Bomba' Gonzalez defense set; Wallin-Gassiev update; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions filed a protest to the WBA on Tuesday on behalf of heavyweight Daniel Dubois seeking to have Dubois’ one-sided ninth-round knockout loss to three-belt unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk changed to a no contest and for a rematch to be ordered.
The crux of the six-page letter from Warren to the WBA, a copy of which was obtained by Fight Freaks Untie, revolves around what referee Luis Pabon ruled a low blow from Dubois to Usyk in the fifth round and Pabon’s actions following his ruling of the accidental foul, which entitled Usyk to as many as five minutes to recover as allowed under the unified rules of boxing that governed the Aug. 26 bout at Stadion Wroclaw in Wroclaw, Poland.
“Owing to what this appeal argues were errors in judgement made by the bout’s referee, Luis Pabon, Daniel Dubois was unjustly denied of his rightful status as unified world heavyweight champion,” the appeal letter said.
“Approximately 20 seconds into the fifth round, Mr. Dubois landed a body blow that dropped and severely hurt Mr. Usyk and, seemingly, crowned Mr. Dubois the heavyweight champion,” the letter continued. “However, the blow was incorrectly adjudicated as low by Mr. Pabon. Instead of being knocked out, Mr. Usyk was given a substantial recovery period which allowed him to regain his strength and continue the bout without impediment.”
The punch in question appeared to land deep on Usyk’s waistband but seemingly borderline with the navel, which is the line of demarcation for what is considered a low blow and what is not. Pabon, a vastly experienced championship referee, made the split-second judgement call that it was an accidental foul, which allowed Usyk to take his time before rising. Had Pabon begun the 10-count Usyk, the WBA, WBO and IBF titleholder, could have attempted to get up more quickly.
Also, of note, only the commission regulating a fight has the authority to overturn a decision to a no contest, not a sanctioning organization, which controls the belts at stake but not the rules of the bout.
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