Oleksandr Usyk made history on Saturday, July 21, when he became the undisputed cruiserweight world champion – retaining the WBC and WBO and picking up the WBA and IBF crusierweight titles – before a sellout crowd of 24,000 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow. His unanimous decision victory over Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series final earned Usyk the Muhammad Ali Trophy for the single-elimination tournament that began last September. Usyk, the No. 1 seed in the eight-man field became the first fighter in cruiserweight history to unify all four world title belts. Usyk was also awarded the honorary cruiserweight title by The Ring magazine.
Judges scoring the bout were in complete agreement after 12 rounds – 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109 for Usyk’s total domination with his superior speed and skills. Usyk landed 252 of 939 punches while his opponent Gassiev landed a mere 91 out of 313.
Usyk was quick to acknowledge a team effort in the victory. “My team made me look like I looked in the ring,” he said through an interpreter in a post-fight media session. “This is our victory.”
The Ukrainian became the third undisputed cruiserweight world champion in division history, joining three-belt champions Evander Holyfield and O’Neil Bell. He is only the fourth fighter to unify four major titles in any weight class in the four-belt era, joining former middleweight champions Bernard Hopkins (2004) and Jermain Taylor (2005) and former junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford (2017).
Usyk (15-0, 11 KO), a 31-year-old left-handed puncher and 2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist, relied heavily on his primary weapon, his right jab. No. 2 seed Gassiev (26-1, 19 KO), famous for his body punches, had little success damaging Usyk’s midsection.
The two combatants displayed strong respect for each other prior to their bout, probably due to the long-time friendship of their trainers, Russ Anber (Usyk) and Abel Sanchez (Gassiev). The respect was there after the fight with Gassiev giving due credit to the winner.
WBSS
Oleksandr Usyk, decorated with four title belts, receives the Muhammad Ali Trophy from Lonnie Ali and boxing promoter Karl-Robin “Kalle” Sauerland.
“Best opponent in my professional career. Oleksandr Usyk did a great job. Thank you for this fight,” Gassiev said in a post-fight press briefing. “Oleksandr was the favorite and he proved it.”
In his fourth successful title defense, Usyk not only became the undisputed champion, but he did so by winning each tournament fight on the road. All six of his world title bouts have been away from home: his first belt was won in Poland, the first two defenses in the United States, the tournament quarterfinal in Germany, the semifinals decision in Latvia and now his victory over Gassiev in his home country.
Usyk suffered an elbow injury that forced postponement of the tournament final from May 11 in Saudi Arabia, but he showed no ill effects from the injury, using his strong jab throughout the fight. Usyk’s jab consistently rocked Gassiev’s head backward, while the Russian’s offense was very sporadic. Gassiev landed a few heavy lefts to the body in the second round, landed a right hand to the head in the fourth and a clean right hand in the seventh. The tough Ukrainian with an excellent chin hardly budged.
Gassiev’s third title defense was reduced to a strategy of hoping for one big punch, needing a knockout to win. The faster, more skilled Usyk boxed circles around Gassiev, swelling his left eye, bloodying his nose in the 10th round and hammering him with uppercuts, jabs and combinations.
The champion showed off his tremendous conditioning in the 12th round by throwing 117 punches and landing 47 – the most in either category for the fight – capping off a historic victory.
Usyk was presented the Muhammad Ali Trophy commissioned for the winner of the tournament by Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali. Upon hoisting the trophy, Usyk admitted that his wife, Katarina, had already picked out a special place for it in their home. Coincidentally, Usyk shares a birthday with Muhammad Ali (January 17).
The plan for Usyk is to take some time to enjoy this hard-won fight and decide what is next on the boxing agenda. When he turned pro, Usyk said his goal was to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion and then move up to heavyweight to pursue another title. Former cruiserweight world titlist and potential heavyweight Tony Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KO’s) may be the next boxing card for Usyk.
Usyk-Bellew talks under way
Bellew and his promoter Eddie Hearn have initiated talks for a super fight against Usyk with a stadium in England as a likely venue. Bellew, a former WBC cruiserweight champion, is currently a big force in British boxing after two high-profile victories over retired heavyweight David Haye.
Post-fight in Moscow, Usyk called out Bellew as a possible next opponent and the two challenged each other on social media.
“That was a big win for Usyk and he has established himself as arguably the pound-for-pound No. 1 in boxing right now,” Hearn told Sky Sports News. “Bellew versus Usyk is one of the best fights that can be made right now.”
Hearn has a close relationship with the Sauerland brothers, Usyk’s promoters, and if the fight can be signed, it would make millions for both men. The boxer from Ukraine would open as a heavy favorite over the 35-year-old Englishman.