Oleksandr Usyk has forged Ukraine’s boxing legacy. He has transcended weight classes, eras, and expectations to become one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation and remain a patriot who put his gloves down to defend his country in its darkest hour.
As the first Ukrainian to hold all four major titles in not one but two weight divisions — something only a select few in the history of boxing have ever achieved — Usyk shows exactly what it means to be a modern boxing champion.
Now, as the dust has settled from his historic split-decision victory over Tyson Fury, the towering, undefeated WBC champion and self-proclaimed “Gypsy King”, the world waits to see if The Cat will strike twice in their highly anticipated rematch on December 21st.
Though Usyk eventually had to give up his IBF belt to Daniel Dubois, it only means that the IBO, WBC and WBO titles will be on the line in his upcoming fight against Fury. But before their next chapter unfolds in Riyadh, let’s dive into seven key moments which make Ukraine’s greatest boxing export that great.
The Athletic U-Turn
Before Oleksandr Usyk became a boxing king, he was shooting for the football leagues. Born in Simferopol, Ukraine, Usyk wore his athletic versatility from a young age — he was a left midfielder for SC Tavriya Simferopol’s youth team.
However, at 15, Usyk made a decision to transition from football to boxing. This shift was influenced largely by financial considerations; football training posed a significant financial burden on his family. Encouraged by his height and footwork, which were attributes he’d wielded well on the football field, Usyk found a new calling in the boxing ring.
However, Usyk’s passion for football never waned. In February of 2022, he made a return to the pitch, signing a one-year professional contract with FC Polissya Zhytomyr, a Ukrainian Premier League team. Donning the number 17 jersey, he made a substitute appearance in the 76th minute of a friendly match against NK Veres Rivne, contributing to a 2-1 victory.
An Amateur’s Golden Ratio
Oleksandr Usyk’s amateur boxing career is possibly one of the most insane ratios to date: 335 wins against just 15 losses. Though all of these victories have been significant, a few notable defeats played into shaping his path to professional greatness.
In 2006, during the European Championships, Usyk faced Russian boxer Matvey Korobov in the semi-finals. There is no known footage of the fight, but according to Korobov, Usyk claimed an RSCO loss in the third round due to a significant points difference. An RSCO stands for a referee stopped contest with notations for an outclassed opponent, and is also known as the “mercy rule”.
But Usyk continued, and by 2008, he competed in the Olympic Games. There, he encountered Italy’s Clemente Russo in the quarter-finals and suffered a narrow 4–7 defeat. At the 2012 London Olympics, Usyk faced Russo once more in the final. This time, he emerged victorious with a 6–3 score, securing the gold medal.
Another significant fight occurred in 2009 at the World Amateur Boxing Championships, where Usyk faced Russian Egor Mekhontsev in the semi-finals. Though Usyk believed he deserved the win, the judges awarded the victory to Mekhontsev, who went on to claim the gold medal.
Still… 335 to 15? Yeah, we’ll take it.
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The Olympic Redemption Arc
At the 2012 London Olympics, Oleksandr Usyk entered the competition as the top seed and roared growth — in the quarterfinals, Usyk squared off against Russia’s Artur Beterbiev. Oleksandr’s superior footwork and defense secured him a 17–13 victory, propelling him into the semifinals which presented Bulgaria’s Tervel Pulev as the challenger and culminated in a decisive 21–5 win.
The gold medal match was a rather poignant rematch against Italy’s same Clemente Russo, who had previously defeated Usyk at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Determined to overturn past results, Usyk outmaneuvered Russo — the work paid off, earning him a 14–11 victory and Olympic gold, though avenging the earlier defeat must have tasted better than becoming a champion.
Parallel Punchers
Oleksandr Usyk and Muhammad Ali share a trifecta of remarkable parallels: both were born on January 17th, each stands 6’3” tall, and both possess a reach of 78”. These shared attributes have not gone unnoticed — fans and analysts have drawn comparisons between both boxing icons for years now. Beyond their physical similarities, Usyk has expressed profound admiration for Ali.
The First Ukrainian Cruiserweight Champ
In 2018, Oleksandr Usyk wrote his name into boxing history by becoming the first Ukrainian to unify the cruiserweight division. His path culminated on July 21st, 2018, when he faced Russia’s Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series final held at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium.
Despite the hostile environment, the judges’ unanimous decision — 120–108, 119–109, and 119–109 — earned Usyk a victory, the Muhammad Ali Trophy, and also unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO cruiserweight titles, making him the first boxer in the division to hold all four belts simultaneously.
Following this historic achievement, Usyk defended his undisputed status against Britain’s Tony Bellew on November 10th, 2018. Oleksandr landed an eighth-round knockout. He was honored as the Fighter of the Year by multiple organizations, including the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN.
…And Heavyweight, Too
In May of 2024, Oleksandr Usyk became the first Ukrainian to unify the heavyweight division as well — something that had eluded the sport for nearly a quarter-century. This historic step was realized through a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, in a fight held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight, billed as “Ring of Fire”, was one of the modern day’s biggest boxing matches due to the great contrast between both fighters. Usyk, 6’3”, weighing approximately 220 pounds, faced the 6’9”, 270-pound Fury. Despite the size disparity, the judges scored the fight 115–112 and 114–113 in favor of Usyk, and 114–113 for Fury. The margin was that narrow.
This victory not only crowned Usyk as the undisputed heavyweight champion but also made him the first boxer to unify all four major titles — WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO — in two different weight classes, having previously achieved this distinction in the cruiserweight division.
The significance of this accomplishment extends beyond individual accolades. Usyk’s victory bridged a generational gap; it marked the first time in the four-belt era that the heavyweight division had an undisputed champion, a status last held by Lennox Lewis in 2000.
Following the fight, discussions of a rematch surfaced, with Fury activating a contractual clause for a second fight. The rematch was scheduled for December 21st, 2024, in Riyadh.
Fighting for Ukraine’s Future
In February of 2022, as Russian forces initiated their invasion of Ukraine, Oleksandr Usyk made the decision to join a territorial defense battalion to defend his homeland. This move placed him alongside fellow Ukrainian boxing luminaries such as Vasiliy Lomachenko and the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, all of whom took up arms in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Usyk addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, urging an end to the conflict: “[…] You can stop this war. Please sit down and negotiate it with us without claims. Our kids, wives, grannies are hiding in the basements. […]”
Despite the looming rematch with Anthony Joshua, Usyk prioritized his nation’s defense over his boxing career. His decision to join the territorial defense battalion was not merely symbolic — he actively participated in the defense of Kyiv, demonstrating his dedication to Ukraine’s sovereignty. In late March of 2022, after consultations with Ukrainian military leadership and fellow boxers, Usyk made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine temporarily to prepare for his rematch with Joshua. This choice was influenced by the belief that his success on the global stage would continue to bring attention to Ukraine and serve as a source of national pride.
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