Comments Thread For: The Usyk-Dubois Low Blow Debate Continues

[billeau2]

A lot of people are upset but IMO confused... Valid points include: Why would a ref call a borderline/vis a vis a "close" shot a foul in a championship fight? Some would say he warned Dubois that he was straying a bit low... obviously the ref did not think it was intentional, hence why he did not deduct a point... But the fact that the shot was close, and the ref decided to call it, is a factor.

Some refs let border line go, let fighters find a way to retaliate... I wonder if Steve Smoger would have called this one... The rules allow for the ref to call it. Also, what would be the "rule" if the cup of Usyk was caught on the top, as the punch ascended to the target? Can you have a legal punch that catches the cup, but arrives at a legit target?

I have always respected refs that do less than more...

[Bigdaddy_Vh]

Close shot. Ok to call it low. Ok to call it legal. Zero way to know if usyk would have made the count or not. As the author pointed out, usyk was ready to continue long before the ref allowed it. The idea that Dubois was robbed of a victory is asinine, plain and simple. Robbed of a clean knockdown? You can make a decent argument in either direction.

[hugh grant]

After much thinking I'm thinking to have had such a devastating effect it was a legal shot. Is usy k to have us believe if blow was an inch higher and legal it wouldn't hurt as much? The fact it swayed a inch lower than it shouldve done, shouldn't be the reason it had the devastating effect it did. I think it's just the hardest body punch usyk s ever took and it was too much.

[ChamberOfTruth]

Cry me a River!!!!!!

[ChamberOfTruth]

How ****** do you have to be to not realize it could have gone either way? And the call went in favor of the A side. Big surprise. That’s boxing, it was a more fair call than a lot of what we’ve seen in the past. A lot of Bish’s and imbeciles on here.

[Roberto Vasquez]

Why does anyone care? Dubois had his chance to win after he hurt Usyk badly and instead he got knocked out.

These calls can go for or against you. The ref doesn't have the benefit of multiple angles or slow-motion.

[elegua]

SOG could never defeat Kovalev with Pabon as referee...

[kafkod]

i think the ref should be censored for his actions, usyk should be ashamed of his oscar/award winning performance especially seeing him holding his stomach where the punch was placed, rather than his balls where the blind ref said the punch o landed...... instant replay is a MUST. IN professional boxing rat now. they will appeal to no avail because no boxing oversite is available. PS.... if you want to see a low blow watch the effey agafa fight that happened later that same night on espn+ on the jared anderson card, now those were looowwww blows.

The ref never said the punch landed on Usyk's balls. A punch doesn't need to land on the balls to be a low blow.

I watched the Ajagba fight, btw. He was hit lower than Usyk but nowhere near as hard.

[joe strong]

I’m going to stay neutral. It was a borderline call. I thought Usyk went down like he got shot so if it was deemed legal would he have been too hurt to get up? Was he just stunned & took advantage of the low blow call & used it to his advantage to get extra time? Why the hell didn’t Dubois jump on him after? He had 7 more rounds to land another. Dubois folded like an accordion the rest of the way. He quit again!!! No way he wins an appeal as the world wants undisputed next. After seeing that punch I expect Fury to be licking his chops. Hopefully they can get the fight across the finish line. I have no interest in Usyk/Hrgovic…

[Toffee]

I’m going to stay neutral. It was a borderline call. I thought Usyk went down like he got shot so if it was deemed legal would he have been too hurt to get up? Was he just stunned & took advantage of the low blow call & used it to his advantage to get extra time? Why the hell didn’t Dubois jump on him after? He had 7 more rounds to land another. Dubois folded like an accordion the rest of the way. He quit again!!! No way he wins an appeal as the world wants undisputed next. After seeing that punch I expect Fury to be licking his chops. Hopefully they can get the fight across the finish line. I have no interest in Usyk/Hrgovic…

Dubois did target the body. Usyk's a good boxer and a tough unit though. He dealt with it well.

I'm pretty neutral on the legality too. I completely understand the rulebook definition... but I also see that punch all the time. And it was a really good shot that caught Usyk unawares.

We quite literally talk about 'below the belt', not 'below a line between the hips and the naval'.

Legal or not - that was stomach that he hit. Common sense says that's a good shot. The rules might say otherwise - which makes it the ref's call.