Teddy Atlas has seen it all in the sport of boxing.
Once a well-respected trainer who learned the ropes under Cus D’Amato and led Michael Moorer to becoming the first ever southpaw heavyweight world champion amongst other achievements, Atlas is now a sought-after analyst.
Speaking on his podcast, The Fight, he named none other than Oleksandr Usyk as 2024’s Fighter of the Year.
“To me, there’s no contest … That would be Oleksandr Usyk. He beats Tyson Fury twice. First time for the undisputed heavyweight championship, first time in 25 years since Lennox Lewis and Holyfield did it. He does it. And then, just to show it wasn’t a fluke, he goes and does it again. I don’t know how you top that.
Both fights were good fights, the first one was epic. Fury winning the early part, hurting Usyk at the end of the sixth, looking like he’s in control, and then Usyk coming storming back, almost knocking out Fury. Fury comes back and some people thought he won that last round after going from pillar to post all over the ring like a Slinky. So, I go with Usyk.”
After his undisputed cruiserweight run, Usyk moved up to the top division and dethroned Anthony Joshua for the unified heavyweight titles. He successfully defended those belts in a rematch, stopped rising star Daniel Dubois and faced Tyson Fury to become four-belt champion for a second time in his career.
As Atlas mentions, Usyk seriously hurt Fury in the first bout on his way to a split decision. In the rematch in December, he won clearer on the cards, outworking Fury to a unanimous decision.
Many feel that the elite Ukrainian should now consider retirement having ‘completed’ the sport, however he has hinted he will fight on and may rematch Dubois – Atlas’ shout for second best fighter of the year – to become undisputed again, provided the Brit gets past Joseph Parker in February.
