What's next for Oleksandr Usyk following Daniel Dubois fight? Fury, Hrgovic or DDD after low blow storm

Oleksandr Usyk picked up his expected victory over Daniel Dubois at the Wroclaw Stadium, but his ninth-round TKO triumph was not without controversy.

Usyk decked Dubois in the eighth and ended his misery in the next session with a beautifully timed southpaw right to the jaw.

However, the IBF, WBA and WBO champion was on the floor himself in round five, although Dubois' right uppercut to the body was ruled a low blow for straying below the beltline. Replays showed this to be a borderline call from referee Luis Pabon at a time when Usyk was clearly discomforted.

In the final analysis, the 36-year-old moves on to 21-0 and can plot his next move. What lies ahead? Well, there will be further mandatory assignments due, and the extremely large shadow of WBC champion Tyson Fury will continue to hover over Team Usyk until that fight is made.

The Sporting News looks at what could be next for the unified heavyweight champ.

MORE: Sign up to watch Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois, exclusively on ESPN+

What's next for Oleksandr Usyk?

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury

You hesitate to even suggest that this matchup is a possibility, but we were eventually treated to the long-awaited mega-fight between Errol Spence and Terence Crawford, so we'll try to stay positive.

Frankly, negotiations for Fury vs. Usyk have amounted to nothing and the process has been downright depressing for fight fans. It's been the usual garbage: money, ego, and rematch clauses, so it's very difficult to stay optimistic.

It's perhaps not the most lucrative fight the division has to offer (Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder, and Fury vs. Joshua would probably eclipse it), but in terms of boxing history, no fight is more important than this one.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Filip Hrgovic

Earlier in August, Hrgovic extended his unbeaten record to 16-0 (13 KOs) when he scored a 12th-round stoppage over the previously undefeated Demsey McKean. That victory saw the Croatian star retain his No. 1 position with the IBF.

Hrgovic has the size and amateur pedigree to present real problems at the elite level. For a long time, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist was viewed as a champion in waiting, though a tougher-than-expected decision win over Zhilei Zhang last August took some shine off his reputation.

Regardless, Hrgovic deserves his chance and the IBF is almost certain to order an Usyk fight if the latter doesn't secure the long-awaited showdown with Fury.

MORE: All you need to know about Usyk vs. Dubois

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Zhilei Zhang

In a seismic upset, Zhang displaced Joe Joyce as the WBO's No. 1 challenger when he scored a sixth-round stoppage over the Englishman in April.

Zhang entered that bout as a huge underdog, but his southpaw style and quick fists bemused his opponent from start to finish. By the end of the contest, Joyce had absorbed a frightful pounding, and his right eye was swollen shut.

A rematch clause means the pair will go at it again on September 23. Whoever wins will be in a prime position to challenge Usyk in 2024, and Zhang is a -138 favourite to repeat his victory.

"Big Bang" versus Usyk would be an interesting all-southpaw clash. And if Joyce can avenge his lone defeat, then he's also a solid opponent for the Ukrainian.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2

Dubois and his promoter Frank Warren were both strident in their complaints after the Usyk defeat, stating that Pabon's low-blow call had denied them one of the most famous wins in British boxing history.

Warren pledged to appeal the result and lobby for an immediate rematch in a move that could further complicate Usyk's mandatories picture.

However, Dubois' handlers might have second thoughts once the dust settles. The 25-year-old was roundly outboxed for the majority of the contest and, following his 2020 defeat to Joyce, the wisdom of throwing him in for what is likely to be another punishing defeat should be questioned.

Warren also promotes Fury so it will be instructive to see how hard he really pushes for the the rematch over the weeks and months ahead.