Oleksandr Usyk proved once again that he is one of the best fighters in the world with a hard fought victory over Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Nobody has ever owned the undisputed title in the four-belt era. Tyson Fury holds that final strap, and his retirement claims seem to be a ritual for top fighters.
In August of last year, Tyson was poised to meet Joshua for the undisputed title, but the fight was put on hold due to a third fight with Deontay Wilder.
Plans for the undisputed title fight between Joshua and Usyk were put on hold after Joshua was knocked out by Usyk.
While Joshua was getting ready for the second match against Usyk, he was defeated by Dillian Whyte. But earlier this month, in a surprise to everyone, he said he would end his retirement with a third fight against Chisora.
Of course, that's a fight of little interest, and Fury quickly dismissed the possibility of a match up again.
After defeating Joshua, Usyk stood in the middle of the ring and called his shot.
In the ring after the fight, Usyk said he was sure that Tyson was still alive. I'm certain." He wants to fight me. I would like to fight him. I won't be fighting at all if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury.
Soon after, he responded in a video.
He said he would destroy both of them on the same night. "Get your money out because 'The Gypsy King' is here to stay!"
It's all music to the ears of boxing fans, who have been looking forward to the chance to see Usyk tested against a bigger man. Even though Joshua is a big man and has a lot of strength, he doesn't possess the sort of jab and movement that distinguishes him from the rest of the sport.
"I want to fight him. And if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all." Oleksandr Usyk
After nearly being stopped by Usyk in the first meeting, Joshua improved in the second meeting. Usyk is a natural boxer. A fight between the two of them for all four of the belts is a monster event. It's the kind of event boxing doesn't deliver often.
The purse split for the Usyk-Fury fight should be 50% according to Bob Arum. The larger the boxing match, the harder the negotiations are.
This fight makes a lot of sense, and it's worth it. The Saudis were willing to pay over 150 million dollars for an undisputed title fight between Joshua and Fury last year.
Even though the fight won't happen now, there is still something better to be had.
No opponent has been able to solve Usyk's puzzle because of his use of angles, movement and jabs. Even though he's just 220 pounds, he has enough strength to cause a lot of damage.
Punches | Usyk | Joshua |
---|---|---|
Total landed | 170 | 124 |
Total thrown | 712 | 492 |
Percent | 24% | 25% |
Jabs landed | 39 | 23 |
Jabs thrown | 397 | 312 |
Percent | 10% | 11% |
Power landed | 131 | 101 |
Power thrown | 315 | 280 |
Percent | 42% | 36% |
-- Courtesy of CompuBox |
Usyk was able to survive Round 9 despite being hurt by Joshua and was able to show that he is a tough fighter.
There was no questions about Usyk's character. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Usyk quickly took up arms in a territory defense battalion and was a beacon of hope for those watching his fight at home.
Usyk has proved to be just as brave inside the ring. He was installed as an outsider against Joshua in his third fight. He's yet to meet his match.
It will be Usyk's ultimate challenge to put it all together. He wasn't considered a puncher earlier in his career but his reputation has changed after he scored two knockouts.
The English boxer is able to switch stances easily and his jab is one of the best in the game. Joshua is able to impose his superior size on opponents. In his last two fights, he leaned on him and pushed him to the ropes, forcing his opponent to contend with all the weight of him.
If there is one, that seems to be the recipe for success against usyk. There is no one more equipped than Fury. He is the top pound-for-pound boxer on the network. Usyk is in second place in both rankings.
Boxing needs to make sure it doesn't get in its own way. This is a fight that needs to be seen.