Daniel Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles, believes Oleksandr Usyk put on an Oscar-worthy performance against his fighter.
The unified heavyweight champion knocked out Dubois in the ninth round when they squared off in August 2023.
DAZNUsyk and Charles went back and forth at Tuesday’s press conference[/caption]
However, he was dropped by a divisive shot in the fifth frame.
Dubois and his team insist the punch that decked Usyk for several minutes was a legal body shot, but the referee, Luis Pabon, determined it to be a low blow.
As a result, Usyk was given four minutes to recover before rebounding to stop Dubois in the second half of the fight.
During the launch press conference, Charles accused Usyk of ‘conning’ the referee in a scathing rant.
“Usyk, as a boxing trainer, I have a lot of respect for you as a fighter,” he said.
“What you have achieved is remarkable, but it disappoints me that you can stoop as low as bringing those types of photographs I’m looking at [of the low blow].
“Why don’t you print out the actual shot that had you trembling.
“The acting you did that night, you should have been given an Oscar for that performance.
“You conned the referee, you conned us, you conned the boxing world.
“You pride yourself as a good-fearing man, Thall shall not lie in the name of God.
“So I want to question, what sort of God you worship, period.
“You can look at me as much as you like; in fact, I will print it out so you can go home and study it.
“You are very mentally strong, but you have met somebody who is stronger than you.”
Usyk then replied that he worshipped ‘Jesus’, which Charles misheard as jealous, leading to a back-and-forth.
“Jealous of what?” shouted Charles. “Explain yourself.
“Jesus? I’m jealous of Jesus? The God you worship, the way it works, is the God who has summoned you, our boy, here, Daniel Dubois, to get revenge on you.
“That is why you are here… Thou shalt not cheat.”
Usyk then sarcastically responded: “You’re right, I deserve an Oscar. Listen, you must teach your fighter to punch clean.
“But I won this fight with a jab and enough.”
