Oleksandr Usyk adds a tantalising X factor to boxing’s booming heavyweight division, and will have a big say in how this fascinating plot unfolds in the next 12 months.
The 33-year-old Ukrainian superstar (17-0) is the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s WBO world title, and could yet scupper that dream fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Usyk puts his credentials on the line against seasoned British veteran Dereck Chisora on Saturday October 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the United States.
Win, and the former cruiserweight king will push his claims to meet Joshua next as he bids to reach the summit at heavyweight as well.
We talked to one of the people who knows Usyk best - his co-promoter Alex Krassyuk - to find out what makes the slick southpaw tick. He gave us the lowdown on a number of topics:
- How the story began for Usyk as a professional
- What makes Usyk tick - inside and outside the ring
- AJ, the WBO mandatory situation and step-aside talk
- That crucial Halloween showdown with Chisora
- The road - or not - to Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
Q: Please take us back to when you first began working with Oleksandr. How did it come about and what were your first impressions of him. Both as a boxer and as a man?
Alex Krassyuk: I was in London in 2012 on business for my software company, and suddenly I realised it was the time of the Olympic finals. I managed to get tickets and I was lucky to see Oleksandr Usyk claim the gold medal. It was really exciting to see. After the Olympics I was looking to sign Denys Berinchyk (Silver medalist) as I wasn’t sure I would be able to make Usyk a decent offer. The whole dream team (Loma, Usyk, Gvozdyk and Berinchyk) spent one more year at the World Series of Boxing and had great success among fans. They had sellouts for semi-professional shows which was unusual for Ukraine at that time. Vitali Klitschko called me and said that we had to try to get Usyk for K2. So we began negotiations… after several meetings we were close to completing the deal. But I asked Usyk to double- or triple-check that he was comfortable about signing with us. So he took a trip to the United States where Egis Klimas arranged meetings for him with Top Rank, Golden Boy, Main Events and some other promoters. We ended up making Usyk the best offer and we made a deal. His six-round professional debut took place in November 2013 at the Kyiv Palace of Sports, it was sold out several days beforehand. The rest is history.
Q: Did what Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko achieve in their careers have a big influence on Usyk when he was an up-and-coming fighter?
AK: I am convinced it did. Vitali and Wladimir were the icons for boxers all over the world and especially in Ukraine. Their achievements definitely inspired Usyk for his future success. And Usyk was lucky to be in direct contact with both legends, and they were happy to share their heritage with their prospect.
Q: Usyk’s win over Tony Bellew was his first major professional fight in the UK. How much did that increase his profile?
AK: By the time Usyk faced Tony he was already the undisputed cruiserweight champion, but was still a rising star. When he came to Manchester, the UK fans got acquainted with his unusual personality, with how charismatic and amusing he was. On top of that, he anchored that impression with a spectacular knockout victory to prove his undisputed status.
Q: All great fighters and all great athletes have special qualities which make them great. What makes Usyk great?
AK: Charisma, boxing skills, hard work and his children’s (naïve) faith in success.
Q: Some of the videos Oleksandr has released on social media in the lead-up to the Chisora fight have made him a cult figure with boxing fans in the UK. He seems to have quite a sense of humour - and he can dance! What is he like to be around?
AK: He stays positive all the time. He combines hard work in the gym with some dancing and jokes to make the process easier for his psyche and for the psyche of his team.
Q: What does Usyk like to do when he isn’t fighting and isn’t training. What makes him tick outside the ring?
AK: He is a great family man, he loves his wife and children and tries to spend as much time with them as it is possible. I know he conducts some business affairs aside from boxing but I’m not really aware of his investments.
Q: How difficult has boxing's lockdown been for you, Usyk and the team? What problems did it bring for you?
AK: Lockdown was something that nobody in the world expected or faced before. But it also gave Usyk some precious time to take care of his health, to replenish his mental and physical energy. The negative side was that everybody involved had their financial plans postponed. But everything that is done is done for the best. We have no complaints.
Q: The fight with Dereck Chisora on October 31 is seen by most experts as a real test to see if Usyk can be as good against big, seasoned heavyweights. How has he prepared for this specific test?
AK: His preparations never differ much. He has his routine which disciplines him. The only thing that makes this training camp look a bit different is the sparring partners.
Q: What problems do you think that Chisora might present, and how will Usyk solve them?
AK: Chisora is physically strong, mentally mature and has huge experience in the heavyweight division. I am sure he has prepared some tricks specially for Usyk. This man can punch, he has explosive power and Usyk has to be very cautious. However, Alex’s footwork, his boxing IQ and addiction to the fight plan should deliver him success in this fight.
Q: You’ve consistently said that If Anthony Joshua defeats Kubrat Pulev, then you expect him to face Usyk next - before Tyson Fury. Is that still yours and the WBO's position?
AK: My position is very clear and grounded. Usyk is the WBO mandatory. We waited for Joshua to fight Pulev only on the condition that AJ faces Usyk next. Otherwise he would have to relinquish the WBO title. And my personal hunch says AJ vs Fury is not very likely to happen soon. I think Deontay Wilder can also add some confusion into this "architecture".
Q: You’ve also said that Usyk would not consider stepping aside in that scenario to let Joshua fight Fury. Is that still the case?
AK: The final decision always belongs to the fighter, but I will never advise him to take money to step aside. And I can explain to you why. Disputing the world title in the heavyweight division is not a matter of money - it is a matter of heritage. Money may run out some day, but the championship will stay forever. In 20 years he will tell his grandchildren about his career, and he would not feel comfortable telling them he stepped aside for money instead of insisting on challenging for the title.
Q: Outside of Fury and Joshua, who do you believe is the biggest threat to Usyk in the heavyweight division right now?
AK: Vitali Klitschko once said "There is no strongest boxer in the world. It’s all about how good you are within 12 rounds of the fight." It means preparation and luck is what matters most. So any fighter can beat Usyk if he is better prepared. In the same way, Usyk can beat anyone if his conditions are better at the time of the fight.
Q: You’ve said that Usyk wants to unify the heavyweight titles in the same way he did at cruiserweight. He seems to have an unshakable belief in his ability. Have you ever seen him concerned or worried by anything?
AK: His real concern is to make this world better. As a boxer, he tries to achieve this aim by executing his mission in the ring. Usyk is a great fan of what Muhammad Ali did outside the ring, and he will try to continue along a similar path.
Q: Moving up from cruiser to the heavyweight division today can sometimes mean giving away 50-60 pounds in weight. Are you confident Usyk can handle that sort of size difference?
AK: Usyk is not small. His weight is over 100kg and his height is 1.91m (6ft 3ins). Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, David Haye - all these heavyweight champions were similar in size to Usyk. Success lies in the mental plane rather than in anthropometry.
Dance, Exercise, and look forward to the fight with Derek 💪🏻 #usyk pic.twitter.com/EqsdQdXIvs
— Alexander Usyk (@usykaa) July 28, 2020
Q: If Usyk wins a world heavyweight title, where do you think history would rate him?
AK: It all depends on who he defeats. If you want to become a king you need to dethrone the king.
Q: His great friend Vasiliy Lomachenko is now at a career crossroads after that defeat to Teofimo Lopez. At the age of 33, how does Usyk stay motivated after devoting most of his life to boxing?
AK: As I said before, his children’s faith in success gives him a strong incentive to stay focused. Usyk should learn and draw his conclusions from Loma’s situation, and that should make him even stronger.
Q: The WBC announced over the weekend that they are dropping the cruiserweight limit to 190lbs and adding another division between cruiser and heavy. What is your view on that?
AK: I read about this, but had never really thought about it. It’s probably being done to neutralise the substantial weight difference between really big guys and fighters who are moving up in weight. I don’t know how people will accept that, but it is always good to experiment.
Q: Finally, the Ukraine has produced some incredible talents in recent years, from the Klitschkos through to Lomachenko and Usyk now. Who do you think might be the next great star to emerge from the Ukraine?
AK: My favorite Ukrainian amateur is the future for Ukraine - middleweight Oleksandr Khyzhnyak.
