Dubois, 28, climbed off the canvas twice inside the first three rounds to stop Wardley in the 11th and claim the WBO heavyweight title from the Ipswich man.

Many observers thought the fight should have been stopped sooner given the nature of the beating administered by Dubois as the fight grew on, with the doctor twice called to assess Wardley’s facial damage.

But Usyk, who holds all of the other belts at heavyweight, reckons that Wardley and Dubois will both carry the effects of the fight for the rest of their careers.

“I watched it,” Usyk told The Ring. “It was a good, intense fight with big drama, big emotions. Fans love fights like this because they feel real but for the fighters themselves, fights like this take a lot out of you. 

“Should it have been stopped earlier? Maybe. I always respect a fighter’s heart, but I respect a fighter’s health too. Sometimes the fighter will not stop himself, because his heart will not allow it. Then the referee and the corner have to help him.”

Usyk also told DAZN: “It’s a street fight. Congratulations Dubois, good job, new world champion, but Fabio, where is jab? Fabio, where? [He] never jabbed. Maybe once. Only right hand, only right hand. It’s not working. Very strong chin but I think this is a street fight, it’s a problem for both guys for [the] brain and health.”

Within a few days of the defeat, Wardley confirmed he activated the rematch clause in his initial fight contract and promoter Frank Warren says the return will take place before the end of the year.

Usyk, who has invited Wardley into his camp for sparring on multiple occasions, now hopes the 31-year-old father-of-one will seek medical advice before stepping through the ropes with Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) again.

The Ukrainian added: “As a fighter, I understand him completely. Champions almost always want the rematch straight away.

“But if we speak honestly, after a fight like that, you cannot think only with your heart. You have to listen to your body, listen to the doctors, listen to your team. I think he and his team will make the right decision.”

Usyk himself is currently preparing to face Rico Verhoeven at The Pyramids of Giza on Saturday night live on DAZN pay-per-view in a defense of his WBC and Ring titles. The 39-year-old southpaw had previously confirmed that the clash would be the first of a three-fight exit plan from the sport.

Should all go well against underdog Verhoeven, the decorated kickboxer, Usyk had suggested he would fight the winner of Dubois and Wardley next, in order to reclaim the WBO title he vacated in December.

Usyk, however, has already stopped Dubois twice, so will he now choose a different opponent for his penultimate fight or attempt to complete his hat-trick against the Londoner?

He said: “I am not the kind of person who avoids a fight just because I have already beaten someone before.

“But right now, it is not right to look past Rico. Dubois has the belt, Wardley has the right to a rematch, and there are also mandatory situations.

“So first, I have to finish my work on May 23. After that, we can speak loudly about the next name.”