Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury again last Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The Ukrainian fighter kept his undisputed heavyweight champion title and joined Evander Holyfield as the only boxers to hold all major world titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
Usyk’s journey to the top of the heavyweight division has been impressive. He first made his mark as an undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, beating tough opponents like Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew. Then he moved up to heavyweight, where he faced Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora before taking on bigger names.
The Ukrainian’s biggest wins came against Anthony Joshua, whom he beat twice, and now Tyson Fury, also twice. These victories have cemented Usyk’s place in boxing history.
Evander Holyfield, the only other boxer to achieve this feat, sent a message to Usyk:
“Usyk, you done it again. From cruiserweight to heavyweight to beat the heavyweight guy a second time, great job, man.”
Usyk first beat Fury in May, winning a 12-round fight and taking the WBC heavyweight title. That win made him the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
In their rematch last Saturday, Usyk won again. The judges scored it a majority decision, with all three cards reading 116-112 in Usyk’s favor. Some people thought this fight was closer than their first bout.
What’s next for Usyk? He’s got options. He could go back down to cruiserweight and face Jai Opetaia. Or he might stay at heavyweight and defend his titles. One possible opponent is Daniel Dubois, the IBF champion. If Dubois beats Joseph Parker in February, a fight with Usyk could be Usyk’s second undisputed fight at heavyweight.
No matter what he chooses, Usyk has already made his mark in boxing history. He’s shown he can compete and win at the highest levels in two weight classes, a rare feat in the sport.
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