In the world of boxing, Few names resonate with the intensity of Oleksandr Usyk (1987, Ukraine).A champion who left his indelible mark in rings across the planet. Usyk is not only an extraordinary boxerBut a multi-faceted man who can surprise both inside and outside the ring. One of the most descriptive of the Ukrainian boxer His strange entrances to the ring entered with a different mask. This December 21, he will face Tyson Fury for the second time in 2024 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Early Life: From Crimea to Global Stardom
The current heavyweight champion He had a different dream as a child: to become a professional soccer player. however, At the age of 15, he traded his boots for boxing gloves, a A decision that marked the beginning of a legendary career.
Usyk’s commitment to the sport was evident from his first days in the gym. Coaches and teammates immediately noticed his uncanny ability to absorb lessons and improve quickly. This ability would be one of the distinctive features of his career: adaptability, both technical and psychological, allowed him to overcome opponents of different styles and contexts.
Usyk as a young man.
An explosion in amateur boxing
Usyk has established himself as one of his own One of the best aspiring boxers of his generation, he became the Olympic champion at the 2012 London Games. Representing Ukraine, Won the gold medal in the heavyweight category (91 kg) with a performance that dazzled the boxing world.. His fluid movements, tactical intelligence and surgical precision mark him as a unique talent. On the amateur circuit, he had an impressive record of 335 wins and 15 losses.
In addition to his talent in the ring, Usyk began to display his charismatic personality. He performed often Traditional Ukrainian dances followed their fights, their national pride and sense of showmanship. This made him a audience adoration, He cemented his reputation as an exceptional boxer in both skill and charisma.
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
They are taking strong steps from the beginning
In 2013, Usyk jumped into professional boxingEntering the category of Cruiser weight. From the start, his technical style, impeccable defense and versatility made him a formidable competitor. His rise was meteoricY In just 10 professional fightsYHe won the WBO world title Trans Derotar to Polish Krzysztof Glowacki In 2016
The most notable win during his time as a cruiserweight came in 2018, when He became the undisputed champion in the division, unifying the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles.. He reached this milestone after defeating the Russian Murat Gassiev In the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, Usyk’s spectacular performance proved that he is not only an elite boxer, but a master of the art of boxing.
Usyk celebrates his win over Bellew.
An enviable career
Usik, 37 years, He comes into this match with an unbeaten record of 22 wins, 14 of them by knockout. After making the jump to heavyweight, many questioned whether his physique would allow him to compete with the giants of the division. however, Usyk responded strongly by defeating Derek Chisora And, later, to Anthony Joshua In both cases, the belts were confiscated AMB, FIB, OMB and the IBO title. Last but not least, he defeated Tyson Fury by split decision (115-112, 114-113 and 113-114) and He was declared the undisputed heavyweight champion in May 2024.
After seven months, Oleksandr Usyk has a chance to show the boxing world that his victory over ‘Gypsy King’ was no fluke. And cements himself as one of the greatest boxers of all time
