Oleksandr Usyk could retire right now and he would be a lock for The Hall of Fame. Of course, as special as he is (and he knows it), as much of a born fighter (or boxer) as he is, the 34 year old southpaw from Ukraine who has been called a boxing genius will go for more glory. Yet let’s take a look at how much this incredible boxer has already achieved – and in such a comparatively short space of time.
Consider Usyk’s vast achievements after just 19 pro fights!
Usyk went pro in September of 2013 and he won his first world title, the WBO cruiserweight title, in just his tenth fight, and he did it on the road, beating Poland’s Krzysztof Glowacki in Poland. Usyk then added the WBC cruiserweight title with a win over Mairis Breidis, this win also coming on the road, in Breidis’ homeland of Latvia. Usyk, by now competing in The World Boxing Super-Series, then defeated Murat Gassiev to take the WBA and IBF titles – yes, you know, on the road, in Gassiev’s home country of Russia.
That win saw Usyk also pick up The Muhammad Ali Trophy in The WBSS. After just 15 pro fights, Usyk was the first man to hold all four major belts at cruiserweight. Astonishing. Then, after taking out Britain’s Tony Bellew, in Britain (does this guy Usyk ever have the advantage of fighting at home!), Usyk made the move up to heavyweight. Just three fights later (spread out over almost two years, this partly due to the pandemic) Usyk became, this past Saturday night, a unified, three-belt ruler at heavyweight – and again he did it by beating a fighter in his own backyard!
This is a truly incredible work-rate. When we factor in all of Usyk’s amateur achievements – among them, Olympic gold, European gold, gold at the World Championships – it’s abundantly clear we are looking at, and enjoying, a very, very special fighter; sorry, boxer. Usyk has inner toughness to go with his sublime skills, but he is a fine boxer, one with a possibly unparalleled boxing brain.
And there could be more to come from Usyk. A repeat win over Anthony Joshua? Don’t go betting against it. A win over Tyson Fury? Would you wager against it? A win over Deontay Wilder? Again, why not? Usyk as the four-belt undisputed heavyweight king? This is what Usyk is shooting for.
Just think of it: after as little as 22 pro fights, Oleksandr Usyk, currently 19-0(13) might have won it ALL! Who out there doesn’t like, appreciate and wish to celebrate Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk?
Usyk fought an amazing fight last night. I was on the edge of my seat every minute of every round, wary the Joshua could end the fight at any moment with one good combination. It never came and in the closing seconds I was screaming for Usyk to finish AJ. One of the best recent fights. I have major doubts about Usyk’s chances against Fury though. Just too big a man for him. I think he would school Wilder easily with his superior boxing skills, so not much interest in that one. I say next up should be AJ vs loser of Fury-Wilder and Usyk takes on the winner. Win or lose that fight, Usyk could retire knowing he made it to the top.
I am AJ fan, but Iust admit that he was comprehensively beaten and schooled in the art of boxing. I was very confident AJ was going to knock him out, but now, I am not too sure he can win against Usyk in the rematch. Where does AJ go from here now. I think he is spending too much of his time on interviews and meeting with people rather than focusing 100% on his boxing.