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Boxing
Usyk vs Dubois 2: Low blow or not? DAZN boxing fans have their say with decisive poll verdict
Usyk vs Dubois - TOMORROW on DAZN PPV - Buy Now
Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will have the weight of personal and professional history upon their shoulders when they step into the ring tomorrow on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The pair meet for the undisputed heavyweight championship crown, as the Ukrainian puts his WBA, WBC and WBO titles up for grabs against the Briton and his IBF strap.
The stakes have arguably never been higher for either at Wembley Stadium - and represents a step up from their first clash two years ago, when they shared the ring in Poland.
Then, Usyk's reign as unified heavyweight king almost came to a premature end when Dubois dropped him in the fifth round - but the hit was ruled as a controversial low blow.
The latter has strongly contested the suggestion his strike was below the belt, but his opponent rallied after a recovery period to stop him in the ninth round at Stadion Wrocław.
Debate has raged between both camps during the intervening years and amid the build-up to this hotly anticipated rematch, - but just what do DAZN's boxing fans think about it?
Was it a low blow in Usyk-Dubois?
- Yes: 49% (7,682)
- No: 51% (8,111)
Survey taken from 15,780 respondents through DAZN
Much as the debate among the boxing community remains split on the decision by referee Luis Pabon to deem the hit was low, so too are fans near-equally split on its legality.
Forty-nine percent of DAZN customers think the official made the wrong call and that the blow should have stood - a blow which would have resulted in a knockdown for Dubois.
Fifty-one percent meanwhile believe the right decision was made, with the recovery afforded to Usyk allowing him to regain control of a bout he dominated.
Fight statistics show that 'The Cat' outlanded 'Dynamite' across all nine rounds before he secured his knockout victory, while Dubois failed to land double-digits in any round.
Yet had he prevailed there, then the landscape of the heavyweight division would have undoubtedly diverged. A victory for the Briton would have pushed Usyk into a rematch.
The knock-on effect likely would have ensured Tyson Fury was forced to wait for an undisputed battle with the victor, potentially clearing the path to an Anthony Joshua super-bout.
Two years on, Dubois has a chance to settle old scores in a division where he has rebuilt his reputation and returned to the summit - and now, he can deliver shockwaves again.
Usyk vs Dubois 2 only on DAZN
Watch Usyk versus Dubois 2 live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday - July 19 - for £24.99 UK; $59.99 US; $19.99/equivalent ROW.
