The WBA has rejected Daniel Dubois's appeal against his world heavyweight title defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August.

Dubois and promoter Frank Warren had lodged an appeal in an attempt to get the result of the bout changed to a no-contest following a controversial low blow decision during the fight.

Usyk was sent to the canvas in the fifth round, only for referee Luis Pabon to rule that the punch was a low blow and allow the defending champion almost four minutes to recover.

The Ukrainian went on to successfully retain his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles when he knocked the Brit out in the ninth round, but the post-fight discourse was dominated by the low blow call, which Dubois's camp contested.

Warren appealed against the decision last month, calling for the result to be overturned and a rematch to be ordered, but an independent panel has now rejected that appeal and will uphold the original result.

"After studying all the documents, the conclusions of all the instances and the internal rules of the WBA, it was determined that the appeal does not proceed and the decision of the fight stands with the victory and defence of the champion Usyk," read a statement on the WBA website.

"The supervisors of the fight were Carlos Ortiz (IBF), Ed Levine (IBO), Thomas Puetz (WBO) and Jesper Jensen (WBA). The supervisor of the pioneer body, Jensen, determined that referee Luis Pabon made the correct decision regarding the punch which he considered an accidental low blow.

"With the supervisor's opinion, the WBA decided to send the case to the International Officials Committee, who on September 11, issued their review and found that there was no clear and conclusive evidence that the original decision made by Pabon on Dubois' punch to Usyk was wrong.

"They also concluded that no TV clip had evidence that the decision was incorrect. In addition, they asserted that 'the original decision of the low blow must stand, as there is no indispensable evidence to prove otherwise'.

"On the other hand, the WBA rules determine that the decision of a low blow and whether a boxer who receives it can continue are strict competences of the referee and he is the only one authorised to make these decisions."

The decision ensures that Usyk stays perfect at 21 wins from 21 fights in his professional career, while also seemingly keeping the path clear for a highly-anticipated unification bout with Tyson Fury.

Fury currently holds the WBC belt and it was announced last month that a fight between the two has been agreed, with all four titles on the line and an undisputed heavyweight champion set to be crowned for the first time in the four-belt era.

No date has yet been set for the fight, although it is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia next year. body check tags ::