Oleksandr Usyk is taken into account one of many best boxers at this time. Nonetheless undefeated, Oleksandr has lately defeated boxing heavyweight giants like Anthony Joshua (twice), Daniel Dubois, and Tyson Fury (twice). Whereas he’s nonetheless comparatively new to the heavyweight division in comparison with his contemporaries, many regard Oleksandr Usyk as one of many few worthy to observe within the footsteps of his countrymen, the legendary Klitschko brothers. On this article, we’ll speak about why Oleksandr Usyk is the most effective heavyweight boxer at this time.
Oleksandr Usyk’s Background
Usyk was born on January 17, 1987, to folks who each originated from northern Ukraine. Usyk is the primary little one within the household and has two siblings. He initially performed soccer till the age of 15 and was skilled at a sports activities faculty for Olympic reserves in Ukraine earlier than switching to boxing in 2002. Usyk later graduated from Lviv State College of Bodily Tradition in Ukraine.
Boxers from his area are recognized for his or her excellent newbie fashion of boxing. Usykk had a wonderful file of 335-15 in his newbie profession earlier than turning professional. He’s an Olympic gold medalist (2012 London Olympics), a World Championship gold and bronze medalist (2011 Baku and 2009 Milan), European Championship gold and bronze medalist (2008 Liverpool and 2006 Plovdiv), and a silver medalist within the Boxing World Cup 2008 in Moscow.
Within the 2006 European Championships, Usyk received three matches however fell quick within the semi-finals as a middleweight. Consequently, he determined to maneuver as much as light-heavyweight, successful him the Strandzha Cup (a global newbie boxing event held in Bulgaria yearly) gold in 2008. Two months later, in 2008, he moved once more to the heavyweight division to battle for his Olympic spot.
Within the 2008 Olympics, Usyk fell quick within the quarter-finals, went again right down to light-heavyweight, and received the 2008 European Championship after defeating Artur Beterbiev and Teymur Mammadov to say the title and qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Usyk received the gold medal within the 2012 Olympic Video games after beating but once more Artur Beterbiev within the quarter-finals, Tervel Pulev within the semi-finals, and Clemente Russo within the finals.
Earlier than turning professional, Usyk fought within the World Sequence of Boxing (WSB) heavyweight division from 2012 to 2013 beneath Crew Ukraine. He received all his bouts, two by stoppage. Usyk is a religious Orthodox Christian who’s now married with 4 kids. Exterior of boxing, Usyk additionally skilled in numerous martial arts, similar to Sambo, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Alongside different international boxing figures like Vasyl Lomachenko, In February 2022, Oleksandr Usyk additionally returned to Ukraine and took half in supporting efforts. In about two months, Usyk was given permission to go away his nation and practice for the rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Climbing Up The Boxing Rankings
Usyk turned professional at 26 in late 2013, preventing within the cruiserweight division after signing a promotional take care of K2, a Klitschko brothers-owned promotion. He debuted in November 2013 in opposition to Felipe Romero, a Mexican fighter with whom he received through TKO. After 4 skilled boxing victories, he received the WBO interim Intercontinental Cruiserweight title in 2014 and the Undisputed WBO Intercontinental Cruiserweight title two months later.
To organize for the world-level of boxing, Usyk defended the WBO Intercontinental cruiserweight title 4 instances earlier than successful the WBO Cruiserweight title in opposition to Krzysztof Glowacki in September 2016 to improved his file to 10-0. He defended the WBO Cruiserweight title two instances earlier than placing it on the road for the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence (WBSS) in 2017. All through the WBSS collection (2017-2018), he defeated Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, and Murat Gassiev to assemble the WBO, WBA (Tremendous), WBC, IBF, and The Ring cruiserweight titles.
Earlier than transferring to heavyweight in 2019, Usyk defended his 4 main sanctioned cruiserweight titles in opposition to Tony Bellew in 2018. Whereas nonetheless younger in his skilled heavyweight boxing profession in comparison with different heavyweights, Usyk has already proven his boxing prowess with wins in opposition to at this time’s heavyweight giants. In 2020, he received the WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title in opposition to Derek Chisora, proving he’s worthy of changing into a world-class heavyweight boxer.
In 2021, Usyk had probably the most vital problem in his skilled boxing profession in opposition to Anthony Joshua. Joshua is a heavyweight boxing celebrity and the favourite fighter of their match-up. Regardless of being the underdog, Usyk defied the percentages and received the WBA (Tremendous), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles from Anthony Joshua. After coming from his nation’s patriotic duties, Usyk once more remained on prime and retained his three sanctioned physique heavyweight belts (WBA, IBF, and WBO) of their rematch in August 2022.
Usyk confronted Daniel Dubois in August 2023 and defended his belts in opposition to the younger and hungry fighter. Usyk confronted Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight title in 2024 to unify all of the boxing-sanctioned title our bodies. Of their first assembly, Usyk received by a break up choice to unify all of the belts. Trying to settle the rating, the 2 had their rematch in December 2024, with Usyk successful by unanimous choice to retain his heavyweight titles.
At this time, Oleksandr Usyk has develop into the undisputed champion within the cruiserweight (200 lbs) and heavyweight (200+ lbs) divisions within the 4 main boxing-sanctioning our bodies, specifically the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Group (WBO), and Worldwide Boxing Federation (IBF). With a file of 23-0, 14 of which by the use of knockout, Usyk is taken into account the pound-for-pound number-one boxer at this time.
What’s Subsequent For Usyk?
Within the meantime, the heavyweight boxing division must type itself out, and boxers must battle for his or her spot to problem Usyk for the totally different heavyweight title belts. The undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk, is seeking to battle the younger contender, Daniel Dubois, if he wins his subsequent battle. Usyk has additionally teased that he could come again to cruiserweight, and if that’s the case, Jai Opetaia generally is a doable match-up. In heavyweight, the younger British Moses Itauma hopes to interrupt Mike Tyson‘s file of being the youngest heavyweight champion.
Conclusion
After Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk is the third male boxer in historical past to develop into an undisputed champion in two weight courses within the four-belt period. Usyk is a wonderful image of religion, braveness, humility, perseverance, and patriotism that future generations can look as much as. Based mostly on his accomplishments inside and outdoors the boxing enviornment, Usyk is undoubtedly the most effective heavyweight boxer at this time.
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