I was going to say that Oleksandr Usyk doesn’t really fit the picture of what we expect from boxing’s heavyweight champion, but in an era when the sport has become so marginalized, who has any idea of what the champ should look or act like?
Usyk has been a pro for more than 11 years after a stellar amateur career ended with a heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Usyk was 335-15 as an amateur, but he turned pro amid little-to-no fanfare.
And, let’s be honest, he’s going to be 38 next month, he’s 22-0 with 14 KOs and has been both the undisputed cruiserweight champion and the undisputed heavyweight champion.
If American Express were still doing those “Do you know me?” commercials, Usyk would be a perfect choice. At least in the U.S., he’s about as well known as the back-up gunner on the Carolina Panthers’ punt return unit.
He’s a big, strong, and shrewd fighter who often appears physically overmatched by the opponents he’s faced. In his last four fights going into Saturday’s rematch for the unified heavyweight title with Tyson Fury on DAZN pay-per-view at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he’s given up a combined total of 90.5 pounds.
He’s weighed in between 221 and 223 1/2 for his four heavyweight title fights and he’s expecting to be in the same territory for the rematch on Saturday. Fury was 262 when Usyk won a split decision on May 18, but has indicated he may come in as high as 270 at Friday’s weigh-in.
In those title fights — two against Anthony Joshua and one each against Daniel Dubois and Fury — he was largely overlooked. They were British promotions featuring British fighters and Usyk, a clever and witty guy when he wants to be, isn’t the best English speaker.
Oh, he knows plenty more English than he lets on, but he’s content to say as little as possible and let others take the spotlight.
At an open workout on Wednesday, DAZN’s Claudia Trejos listed off all of the threats Fury had made. Usyk listened benignly and when asked to speak simply said, “OK.”
It’s one of boxing’s failings that a talent like Usyk is largely unknown in the U.S. He’s Beethoven with boxing gloves; a veritable genius in his chosen profession.
Yeah, that may seem harsh seeing the words on the screen, but look at what the man has done. He was a two-time Olympian, a 2012 gold medalist, a two-time medalist at the amateur world championships, and compiled that sterling 335-15 amateur mark. In the pros, he’s unbeaten, and won the undisputed belts at both cruiserweight and heavyweight by beating the best guys in the division.
If he beats Fury, he has a strong argument that he’s the most accomplished boxer in the 21st century. That would put him in the mix with guys like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Andre Ward, Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, who fought most of their significant matches in this century.
If he wins on Saturday, and he’s a -150 favorite at DraftKings sportsbook, he’ll have two wins over Joshua, a KO of Dubois and two wins over Fury in his last five fights.
He has great footwork and he creates angles. His distance control is impeccable. He moves well for a big man and is in the kind of condition few heavyweights ever reach. Look at his scorecards and notice how he controls the second half of the fights regularly.
In a different era, he’d have been on The Tonight Show kibitzing with Johnny Carson on his return, and doing a big media tour. Almost regardless of what happens on Saturday, he’ll slip back into relative anonymity despite his accomplishments.
He was pressed at the arrivals on Tuesday to admit he was great, and said “definitely,” when asked if he’d concede his greatness with another win over Fury. But in the next breath, he brushed off credit when it was suggested he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“I think Terence Crawford is the No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound,” Usyk said.
If he defeats Fury against Saturday, he’ll have vanquished all of the top challengers. This could be the last time we see him.
If it is, it’s to the boxing business’ everlasting shame that he’s not more widely celebrated.
Few have ever been better, though few seem to realize it even though history is unfolding in front of our eyes.
Watch carefully on Saturday, though. See for yourself.
Oleksandr Usyk is one of the great boxers in history, and he shouldn’t be left just for future generations to celebrate.
It’s time to recognize his greatness while he’s still atop the boxing world.
Leigh Dawney/DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk expects to successfully defend his heavyweight title against Tyson Fury Saturday, but said to expect a few wrinkles.