Teddy Atlas has revealed that he is a huge fan of Oleksandr Usyk and recently named him as 2024’s Fighter of the Year.
Few would argue with that given what the Ukrainian has accomplished this year. Back in May, he beat Tyson Fury via majority decision to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. That came just six years after he cleaned out the cruiserweight division to pick up the same honours.
Then in late December, Usyk and Fury stepped into the ring for a rematch and once again the naturally much smaller man managed to impose himself, set a high tempo and land more clean shots on Fury to hand him his second consecutive defeat and defend three of the four world titles still in his possession.
Speaking on his own podcast The Fight, former coach turned pundit Atlas was asked if anyone can beat Usyk and appears to believe the only thing that will do it is time.
“Who is on the horizon to beat Usyk? The same guy that’s been on the horizon to beat all the greats. Father time. The same guy who is just laying in wait, whether your name is Ali, Louis, Usyk, just waiting for that chance to get in that space with you. Father time, the only undefeated fighter.”
Uysk is 38 this month and though he is showing no signs of deterioration and has always lived the right life, he surely cannot carry on at the top level for too much longer.
Despite having already beaten the Brit, a second victory would see him regain the IBF belt he had to vacate to fight Fury and would make him undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time.
