The World Boxing Association (WBA) rejected the appeal of the team of British Daniel Dubois against the result of the fight with Alexander Usyk, which took place on August 26 in Wroclaw.
WBA observer of the fight Jesper Jensen concluded that the referee Luis Pabon made the right decision after hitting Dubois in the fifth round. The Briton's actions were regarded as an accidental blow below the belt.
— Given the inspector's finding, the WBA decided to refer the case to the International Judicial Committee, which issued its review on September 11 and found that there was no clear and convincing evidence that Pabon's initial decision regarding Dubois's strike to Usyk was incorrect, — says the WBA.
It is also noted that it was found that not a single television commercial contained evidence that the decision was wrong. The committee argued that “the original decision on a low blow should stand because there is no conclusive evidence to prove otherwise”.
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WBA rules determine that a decision on a blow below the belt and whether the boxer who received it can continue to fight is strictly the responsibility of the referee, and only he is authorized to make these decisions.
After studying all the documents, the conclusions of all authorities and internal rules, the WBA decided do not continue the consideration of the appeal and leave the result of the fight and Usik’s victory in force.
We would like to remind you that in the fifth round of the Usik-Dubois fight, the Briton hit the Ukrainian in the groin. The referee counted it as a low blow and gave Usyk five minutes to recover. Dubois' team believes that the blow was within the rules.
In early September, the British boxer's promoter Frank Warren said that they had filed an appeal against the Usyk fight — Dubois, in which the Briton lost by technical knockout.
