Oleksandr Usyk – More than a champion
“I think even if he had a baseball bat in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other, he couldn’t really do much to me. I’d still beat him,” said Tyson Fury when asked about Oleksandr Usyk.
Fast forward to 18th of May 2024, the bell rings to signify the end of the 6th round, Fury has just notched a third consecutive dominant round where he is expertly demonstrating his repertoire of skills and leveraging his natural size advantages. Beating up the smaller man with punishing shots to the head and body as a visibly slowing Usyk represented an ever more stationery target.
At the halfway stage of the bout Fury’s comments made me wonder whether he was something of a soothsayer. He had made bold pre-fight claims about how he will dismantle formidable foes with ease followed by justifying his comments with astonishing performances. Firstly, by outboxing the master technician in dislodging Wladimir Klitschko as the unified world heavyweight champion, then brutalising the hard-hitting Deontay Wilder in their rematch to snatch his WBC heavyweight title.
The brash Brit repeatedly said he would beat Usyk easily and he was making good on his promise as the highly-anticipated undisputed clash threatened to be a one-sided beatdown that failed to meet the expectations for a fight of this magnitude.
And whilst Fury sat comfortably in his corner awaiting the bell for the 7th round, perhaps considering his victory celebrations, Usyk sat opposite, closed his eyes and muttered words of what I could only suspect were prayers to God.
His prayers were answered. Knowing that the fight could possibly get away from him, Usyk regrouped and came out for the seventh round with renewed vigour.
Naturally, observers will point to the tactical adjustments to press the action, increase his output and be elusive but what was most noticeable was Usyk’s strength of mind and pride, and stubborn refusal to succumb to Fury.
This was not just an incredible display of boxing by Usyk, it was one of the most incredible examples of human spirit that you will wish to witness.
To accept a fight against a skilled 6’9 behemoth who outweighed him by 3 stone took courage bordering on masochism, but to grind through the adversity of the first half of the fight and force the momentum that had swung so wildly in Fury’s favour to venture back the other away took a type of fortitude that is rare to see.
This microcosm of life that is the boxing world so often serves up these incredible narratives that capture the imagination of the public. It inspires people to believe that their own human spirit is strong beyond measure and can withstand testing times – whether that is in boxing or any other daunting challenge that life throws our way.
This ability is one he has in common with Muhammad Ali, with whom he also coincidentally shares a birthday. Ali was dismissed and discounted, most notably against the intimidating, surly duo of Sonny Liston and George Foreman before resoundingly defeating both whilst exhibiting an unwavering spirit and unshakable belief that resonated with people around the world to become the champion.
At this stage it isn’t hyperbole to speak of Usyk’s name in the same sentence as Ali’s in a conversation about the greatest heavyweights ever. However, although both were tremendously gifted they also had special human qualities of belief, courage and determination that we can all aspire to develop in our lifetimes.
Undeniable, undefeated and undisputed – Oleksandr Usyk is the greatest heavyweight of his era but more profoundly as a human being, like Ali before him, he shattered the meaning of the word impossible with his sheer force of will to confirm that not only is he a superb champion but also a great man with extraordinary human qualities.
