Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk was recognized as the best boxer of 2024 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the authoritative boxing publication BoxingScene. This is another confirmation of his unique status in modern boxing and his huge contribution to the development of this sport.
Oleksandr Usyk was recognized as the best boxer of the past year. The most influential boxing organization and a well-known foreign site immediately gave the first place to our heavyweight. So the WBC (World Boxing Council) did not see any competitors for the Ukrainian. The WBC noted that Usyk became the first absolute champion in super heavyweight for the first time in 25 years since the legendary Lennox Lewis, and the first absolute in the "era of four versions" in the same weight category. (That is, he collected all the most important belts in boxing: WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO).
Oleksandr Usyk also received the palm of the championship from one of the most authoritative portals in the world of boxing, BoxingScene. His journalists recognized the Ukrainian's two victories over the British Tyson Fury as fundamental for the establishment and development of boxing.
Also, Usyk currently ranks first in the unofficial ranking among all boxers regardless of weight category (Pound-for-pound) according to the versions of "ESPN" and the American magazine "The Ring". Both ratings are the most important among all journalistic sports publications.
So, without exaggeration, Oleksandr Usyk can already be called a boxing legend and the face of modern sports. The title of Olympic champion and two-time absolute champion in two weight categories speaks for itself. With this in mind, we decided to compile and write about the top 5 most spectacular victories of a Ukrainian in the ring.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Clemente Russo
Boxing final of the Olympic Games in London in the category up to 91 kg
The first significant fight in Usyk's career took place when he was an amateur at the Olympics in the summer of 2012. Then Alexander defeated the Italian Clemente Russo, a boxer who was already the Olympic champion in 2008 in Beijing.
Our boxer lost the first round - 1:3. It seemed that the experienced opponent would not let go and lead the three-round fight to victory. However, it was Usyk who unexpectedly won the second round - 7:5. Before the decisive part of the match, the judges had a draw - 8:8. So, the last round was supposed to decide the outcome of the fight. The Ukrainian still managed to win thanks to his incredible endurance and footwork. So, 6:3 in the third round, and the total is 14:11. Oleksandr Usyk took the gold. He became the third Olympic champion boxer in the history of Ukraine after Volodymyr Klitschko and his godfather Vasyl Lomachenko.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Murat Gassiev
Fight for the title of absolute world champion ( WBC , WBA , IBF , WBO ) in heavyweight (up to 90.7 kg)
Date: 18.07.2018
Venue: Moscow (Russian Federation)
After winning the Olympics, Usyk immediately switched to professional boxing. In September 2016, he won the WBO title in Poland from the local champion. Oleksandr beat Polish Krzysztof Holovatski on points. Then the Ukrainian was invited to take part in the tournament of the World Boxing Super Series "Muhammad Ali Cup". The title of the best was chosen by the 8th heavyweights (up to 90.7 kg).
As part of the championship, in the semi-finals, Usyk also beat the Latvian Mairis Briedis by points and combined the two titles, the WBC belt joined the WBO.
But the first serious test for the Ukrainian was waiting for another united champion of the Russian, Murat Gassiev. It was the final of the Cup and a battle for the absolute. Ironically, the Ukrainian entered the ring against the Russian precisely in Moscow, and it was during the ATO, so the political undertones of the match could not be ignored.
From the starting round to the end, the initiative belonged to Oleksandr. A slower opponent could not keep up with Usyk's constant movements. The Ukrainian simply smashed Gassiev with various series, alternating blows from the head to the body and vice versa. In the last rounds, the fight began to resemble a real mockery of Murat. However, the judge did not give the go-ahead to record a technical knockout. Oleksandr Usyk resoundingly won on points. All three side judges gave this fight to our boxer.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua
Fight for the title of world champion (WBA, IBF, WBO) in super heavyweight (from 90.7 kg)
Date: 09/21/2021
Venue: London (Great Britain)
After the victory over Murat Gassiev, Usyk knocked out the British Tony Bellew and decided to gain muscle in order to move to heavyweight. Such a decision could be understood, because super heavy weight has always been considered "royal". To win the championship in it meant to immortalize oneself in history as one of the best boxers of all time.
Oleksandr Usyk began his journey among the "great boxers" in the fall of 2019. First, he knocked out the American Chazz Witherspoon in a lackluster match. In his next performance, a year later, he met Derek Chisora, popular with the British. The battle was extremely difficult. The Ukrainian barely won the victory from his opponent on the judges' notes. Many analysts and fans recognized Derek's victory and, at least, a draw. After that, almost all foreign journalists began to write off Usyk, saying that Chisora is a pensioner who had lost many fights before that and still he looked no worse than the praised Olympic champion. However, Usyk ignored the criticism and in September 2021 released one of the biggest sensations of the decade.
He faced the star of boxing and world pop culture, super heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This is Joshua, who took the championship belts by knocking out our Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. No one gave Usyk a chance. The organizers of the match generally believed that this was a passing fight for Anthony. Before the fight, the Briton looked as if he had just returned from the resort: as relaxed as possible and even removed from what was happening.
Joshua paid the price for underestimating the Ukrainian and his own arrogance. From the first three minutes, Usyk picked up an incredible pace, characteristically twisting the next opponent. Anthony could not simply hit, Alexander's speed was so great. The local champion was completely lost in the second half of the fight. He simply stood in front of the challenger and caught punches with his face. In the final 12th round, the Ukrainian's punch almost "turned off Joshua's light". Nevertheless, the Briton was worthy of the gong. So, again, all three judges gave the victory to Usyk. Oleksandr became the new joint champion in the "royal division".
In August, the Ukrainian confirmed this title, defeating Anthony Joshua for the second time. This time, it is a separate decision of sports Themis.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury
Fight for the title of absolute world champion ( WBC , WBA, IBF, WBO) in super heavyweight (from 90.7 kg)
Date: 05/24/2024
Venue: Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
Oleksandr Usyk knocked out another British contender, Daniel Dubois, in Poland in August 2023. It seemed that the Ukrainian had already achieved everything, but the fourth title was not enough to complete the story. The WBC belt belonged to Tyson Fury. Therefore, the fight for the title of absolute champion in super heavyweight began to be organized in the fall of the same year.
It was supposed to take place for the first time in February 2024. However, the British interrupted its implementation. Tyson's eyebrow was cut during one of the sparring sessions. The fight was postponed to May. Usyk was not the favorite of the bookmakers. Tyson was predicted the absolute championship. According to analysts, he should have become the second Briton after Lennox Lewis to collect all the belts and become the king of boxing. The "royal division" has not seen an absolute champion for almost a quarter of a century.
The battle itself began cautiously on both sides. Nobody wanted to force the events. After the second round, the Brit took the initiative into his own hands. From the third to the sixth three minutes, he broke the defense of the Ukrainian. One time he hit a clean uppercut - Usyk led, but the Briton was unable to finish off the face.
In the second half of the match, Oleksandr, despite being behind in points, began to increase the pace of the fight. For a tired Tyson, this came as a surprise. He did not think that his opponent, who was on the verge of defeat, would literally resurrect and start taking round after round. In the 9th round, Oleksandr caught Fury with a precise blow to the head. The Briton got carried away, but so much that he could barely stay on his feet - the ropes saved him. However, this did not prevent the referee from opening the score, fixing the knockdown.
Usyk also took all the last championship rounds. But the judges, taking into account the frank favor of the organizers of the fight to Tyson, could give the victory to him. Half of it happened, one of the representatives of Themis saw the victory of the British. Two are Ukrainians. So Oleksandr Usyk defeated Fury by split decision and became the absolute champion and the best boxer of his generation for the second time.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson F'yuri 2
Fight for the title of world champion (WBC, WBA, WBO) in super heavyweight (from 90.7 kg)
Date: 21.12.2024
Venue: Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
After Alexander's victory over Tyson, the officials of the IBF version began to demand from the champion a mandatory defense of the belt against Daniel Dubois. Usyk had already defeated the Briton, so he gave up the title. All the more, fans and boxing analysts wanted a new fight against Fury. For some reason, some generally believed that the British was fooled by the judges and he, they say, actually won. Others saw a draw. And some, although they recognized the victory of the Ukrainian, still believed that the battle was too close.
They also wanted a rematch in the WBC, so Usyk had almost no other options. So, the second fight against Fury became inevitable and took place at the end of 2024.
Before the fight, Tyson deliberately gained weight. He planned to box number one. Usyk, according to the British team's opinion, should not have a single centimeter of free space, they just wanted to knock the Ukrainian out and then knock him out.
Alexander, understanding the unfolding of such a picture in the ring, immediately began to attack Tyson. The main thing was not to give the center of the quadrangle to the British. With deceptive leg movements and a huge number of blows, Usyk did take the role of the first violin in the rematch. Tyson had no way of controlling the picture of the fight. However, it was also very difficult for the Ukrainian. Fury did a better job on defense this time. Most of Usyk's shots missed the target.
The rounds were too close to count. Some of them could be given either way. But Usyk was a little better in the last four. Tyson did not complete the final again. And again his endurance failed. Functionally, our champion was still better. That is why the judges gave Usyk the victory by unanimous decision. In their opinion, the Brit took only 4 rounds against the Ukrainian's 8.
So, in 2024, Oleksandr Usyk won two grand victories over a man who had never lost before.
In 2025, the Ukrainian wants to continue boxing. According to rumors, Usyk will return in the summer. His opponent can be the winner of the pair Daniel Dubois - Joseph Parker. The fight will take place in February. But no matter what happens next - Oleksandr is already a sports legend and one of the greatest boxers in history.
