Top 5 Oleksandr Usyk Career Highlights

Oleksandr Usyk is a professional boxer from Ukraine. After a highly successful run in amateur boxing’s heavyweight division – 2012 Olympic Games gold medal, 2011 World Championships gold medal, 2008 European Championships gold medal – the boxer born on January 17, 1987 transitioned to professional boxing. His record currently stands at 20 wins and zero defeats. 13 of his wins have come by knockout.

It has been success after success for Usyk in boxing’s paid ranks. He is currently the unified heavyweight champion of the world. He previously cleaned up the cruiserweight division, becoming the undisputed champion in that weight class in only 15 fights.

Oleksandr Usyk has enjoyed plenty of career highlights up to this point. Here is a run-down of his top five.

5 – Unanimous decision win over Krzysztof Glowacki.

Usyk traveled to Gdansk, Poland, to take on Glowacki in his backyard. Glowacki was 26-0 and making the second defense of the WBO cruiserweight world title. The bout took place on September 17, 2016. It was Usyk’s tenth professional contest. Despite his relative inexperience as a pro, Usyk comfortably outboxed Glowacki and cruised to a wide unanimous decision victory on all three judges’ scorecards. The first of Usyk’s many professional world titles had been secured.

4 – Run to glory at the 2012 Olympic Games

Any boxer in the amateur ranks aims to win Olympic Gold. It is seen as the ultimate prize in boxing’s unpaid ranks. Usyk secured the gold medal for Ukraine at the London Olympics. His journey to the top of the heavyweight podium was not easy. Usyk bested Artur Beterbiev, Tervel Pulev, and Clemente Russo on his way to Olympic glory. All three of these opponents were highly decorated amateurs and formidable foes for Usyk. Usyk needed to use all his boxing nous and skills to secure Olympic gold.

3 – Cruiserweight unification glory against Mairis Briedis

As part of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, Usyk faced then 23-0 rival Mairis Briedis of Latvia at the Arena Riga in Latvia. It was another away day for Usyk, whose WBO title was also on the line. Briedis brought his portion of the cruiserweight world crown to the bout (WBC title), and the boxers went to work on January 27, 2018. Usyk boxed beautifully from the away corner and won a majority decision on the scorecards. He added Briedis’ title to his collection and qualified for the World Boxing Super Series final in the process.

2 – Becoming a unified heavyweight champion

Usyk moved up to compete in the heavyweight division in 2019. In 2021, he was presented with the opportunity to fight unified champion Anthony Joshua. Joshua vs. Usyk took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on September 25, 2021. Usyk was once again facing a home favorite on their turf. Despite this, Usyk boxed in his normal skilled and controlled manner out of the southpaw stance and was far too good for Joshua on the night. Usyk’s unanimous decision win saw him leave the venue with the IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles in his bag.

1 – Winning the undisputed cruiserweight title and the Muhammad Ali Trophy

 Usyk’s finest moment in a career full of highlights was July 21, 2018. That night, he traveled to Moscow, Russia, to take on the ferocious punching Russian-born Murat Gassiev. Gassiev was 26-0 with 19KOs on his ledger when Usyk faced him. Usyk nullified Gassiev’s threat with his superior movement and boxing fundamentals and won a convincing unanimous decision. Such was Usyk’s mastery over the 12 rounds; he was awarded a shutout on one card and an 11-1 victory on the other two.

In beating Gassiev, Usyk added the Russian’s IBF and WBA cruiserweight straps to become the undisputed champion in the 200-pound division. This bout was also the final of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament – meaning, as well as all of the belts, Usyk also had the honor of winning the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

Colin Morrison

A boxing fan since his teenage years, Morrison began writing about the sport in July 2016. He appreciates all styles of boxing and has nothing but respect for those who get in the ring for our entertainment. Morrison is from Scotland and can be found on Twitter @Morrie1981.

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