Oleksandr Usyk took a repeat victory over Tyson Fury to defend his WBC, WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles and prove his greatness; Usyk explained why Fury is his toughest opponent and perfect rival, while the Ukrainian’s promoter cautions Daniel Dubois ahead of Joseph Parker fight
Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. He proved that over the course of his two bouts with Tyson Fury.
Usyk won both on the scorecards, converting a split decision in their first fight to a unanimous verdict in their second.
Fury was adamant the judges were wrong, but that was a claim Usyk simply dismissed.
“Okay no problem. I win,” the unified WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion said.
“I win, it’s enough.”
But it was against Fury that Usyk was able to demonstrate his capacity for greatness. Fury was the perfect rival for him.
“He’s my best friend,” Usyk joked. But he added with sincerity: “I very much respect this guy because I think he’s very tough, my opponent. Tyson Fury makes me strong.
“Tyson Fury is a great opponent, big and tough. He’s a good man. Tyson does a lot of talk. It’s just [for] show. I respect him very much. Twenty-four rounds, listen now it’s already history.”
Usyk has earned the right to recuperate from another taxing fight, although Daniel Dubois, the holder of the IBF title, was the first to call him out for a four-belt unification.
“My next step. I’m going to rest,” Usyk said. “Not think about boxing, Dubois, Tyson Fury. Just rest. Just play with my children.”
The Ukrainian’s promoter Alex Krassyuk also noted: “Dubois has to fight Joseph Parker and this is a very tough fight for him.
“It’s too early to mention Daniel’s name in regards to Usyk.”
Usyk’s greatness is not only due to his excellence in the boxing ring, amassing all the disparate championship belts, first at cruiserweight, then at heavyweight while beating all of the best fighters in each of those divisions.
He stands for something. After defeating Fury, Usyk he held aloft a sabre, an artefact dispatched from a museum, that a “hetman” or field marshall had wielded in a 17th century war against Russia. Usyk knew he represented the struggle of his people against the current Russian invasion.
