Oleksandr Usyk has already written his place in boxing’s history books, but he’s not finished yet.
Usyk won Olympic Gold at heavyweight in London 2012 and turned professional the following year. The Ukrainian would capture his first world title just 10 fights into his pro career, defeating Krzysztof Głowacki for the WBO cruiserweight strap.
Within two years the Ukrainian would become undisputed at 200lbs, winning the world boxing super series by outclassing Murat Gassiev to take a wide decision on the scorecards.
The 37-year-old would have one more fight at cruiserweight in a PPV event against former champion Tony Bellew. The Brit was coming off two high profile victories at heavyweight against David Haye. However Usyk would have too much for Bellew, stopping him in round eight and sending him into retirement.
He then set the goal to do what only Evander Holyfield had done before, be undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
In his third and fourth fight in boxing’s blue ribbon division he won and retained the WBA , IBF and WBO titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice by decision. An undisputed clash against WBC champion Tyson Fury looked inevitable.
After many failed talks the date was set, on May 18 the top two in the division would finally meet to determine one ruler.
After an enthralling back and forth encounter, Usyk would become the first man to defeat ‘The Gypsy King’, edging a close decision and achieving his dream of capturing all the heavyweight belts.
Usyk is now in the discussion of not only the greatest of his generation but one of the best to ever lace up the gloves.
However, in a game of winner stays on with Mail Sport, in the last round Usyk was pitted against Muhammad Ali and the Ukrainian didn’t hesitate in predicting a victory Ali.
Ali was a three-time heavyweight champion and held the undisputed crown between 1974 to 1978. He is regarded by many as the greatest boxer of all time and was named Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC. By coincidence, he has the same birthday as Usyk.
Tyson Fury will have the real chance to become the only man to defeat Usyk when the two run it back on December 21.
