Oleksandr Usyk did exactly what he said he would do: follow an undisputed cruiserweight title success by becoming the unified heavyweight champion of the world by putting on a fantastic performance to dethrone Anthony Joshua via unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112, 115-113) to capture the Unified WBO heavyweight title.

Both men felt the effects of their grueling 12-round duel with damaged right eyes apiece, but the timing of Usyk — both in his punches and when he switched from patience to aggression — were second-to-none and left most of Joshua’s key fighting strengths out of the situation entirely.

Joshua had done enough in isolation to keep it close and competitive but never really left first gear before Usyk’s excellent conclusion in the last two rounds sealed it beyond debate.

The result likely scuppers the previous plan of a four-belt unification between Joshua and Tyson Fury — which was the plan for the summer until Deontay Wilder successfully forced a trilogy bout with the current WBC champ. There was a rematch clause in the contract. Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn told DAZN during the post-fight show that Joshua would invoke it.

Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic, WBO Cruiserweight Title, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
25 September 2021
Picture By EDDIE KEOGH Matchroom Boxing
Victorious Lawrence Okolie with his belt.

In the chief support, Lawrence Okolie made a comfortable first defense of his WBO junior heavyweight title when he overwhelmed mandatory challenger Dilan Prasovic, scoring a knockdown in the second round before a body shot in the third prompted the official to wave it off.

USYK OUTPOINTS CHISORA – RESULTS FROM LONDON
12 x 3 mins WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title
OLEKSANDR USYK WUD12 (117-112, 115-113, 115-113) v DEREK CHISORA

Oleksandr Usyk passed his first major test in the Heavyweight division by outpointing Derek Chisora and winning their high-stakes clash via unanimous decision.

HANDOUT PICTURE COMPLIMENTS OF MATCHROOM BOXING
Oleksandr Usyk vs Derek Chisora, Heavyweight Contest.
31 October 2020
Picture By Dave Thompson.

Ukraine’s undefeated Olympic gold medallist and former Undisputed WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion answered doubts about his natural size by displaying his electric footwork and razor-sharp punch accuracy against Chisora at The SSE Arena, Wembley.

Usyk remains the WBO Mandatory Challenger to Anthony Joshua, who watched from ringside, and who he intends to fight in 2021.

“I was very happy to be back in the ring,” Usyk told Matchroom afterwards. “I haven’t fought for more than a year. It was a huge pleasure for me. You saw my smile when I went into the ring. I really want to thank god for this victory. Derek has big power, he has strong punches but I was prepared for it.

“I didn’t think about his boxing IQ. All I was thinking about was the boxing and what I wanted to do. I am very thankful for Derek giving me this opportunity. I am very thankful to this family and his team. I am happy. He is a good man. Anthony (Joshua), how are you? I am coming for you.”

Usyk told Sky Sports: “Chisora a big guy, a hard guy. I was expecting a fight like that, I was expecting a tougher fight. My plan is to go to my home, maximum time with my family. Training and improving myself. Not just World Champion, the Undisputed World Champion [is my aim].”

A disappointed Chisora reacted to defeat: “I feel great. I was pushing the pace. I’m just disappointed with the result, gutted. To everybody who can’t make it [to the fight], I’m gutted for everybody. In the Heavyweight game, you have to fight not box. I gave a couple of rounds away.”

10 x 2 mins vacant WBO Middleweight World Title
SAVANNAH MARSHALL WTKO7 (1:59) v HANNAH RANKIN
(Hartlepool) (Glasgow)

Savannah Marshall became Britain’s latest World Champion by stopping Hannah Rankin in seven rounds to win the vacant WBO Middleweight World Title.

HANDOUT PICTURE COMPLIMENTS OF MATCHROOM BOXING
Savannah Marshall vs Hannah Rankin, Vacant WBO Middleweight World Title Title.
31 October 2020
Picture By Dave Thompson.
Savannah Marshall celebrates.

The former amateur World Champion was a class above her Scottish rival from the opening bell and kept herself on course for a potential showdown with American star and former amateur foe Claressa Shields.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” Marshall told Matchroom. “Fair play to Hannah. She’s an amazing fighter with big heart and I’ve got loads of respect for her. I’m just thrilled to bits. I knew I was good enough. I’ve always known I was good enough. The chances have just never been there for me. Thank god it came tonight. Me and Hannah sold that fight, we really sold that fight. I don’t know what it was like for her but there was no real bad blood there for me.

“With Peter testing positive two weeks ago, I thought that was just typical me! I just had to ride the wave. I think England has got the best female professional boxers. COVID was a blessing because it’s brought them all out. I’m the first female boxer to be an amateur World Champion and a professional World Champion. I beat the men. I beat the men to it. It’s just a dream.

“The pool isn’t that big at the higher weights. I’d like to go up to Super-Middleweight. I’m not really interested in Super-Welter. I think my power stays at Middle. I’ve just battered Claressa Shields’ mate. I’ve just battered her best mate. I’m sure she said Hannah was going to stop me. So what does that say about her boxing IQ. She couldn’t get Rankin out of there. Hannah is a brave fighter. Claressa couldn’t do that. Me against Shields is the biggest fight in women’s boxing. Let’s get it on. I want a piece of it.”

Ukrainian pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk will finally face British favourite Derek Chisora on Saturday October 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US, after their original May 23 date was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) made the move to Heavyweight after dominating at Cruiserweight, ending his extraordinary spell at 200lbs as the Undisputed king with a phenomenal run of victories in his opponents’ backyard against Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew.

The 2012 Olympic Gold medallist began his assault on the Heavyweight division by retiring Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago last October and continues his bid to become a two-weight World Champion when he faces an in-form Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs).

Former World Title challenger Chisora scored a devastating second round knockout over Poland’s Artur Szpilka at The O2 in July 2019, a year on from his incredible eighth round KO win against Carlos Takam at the same venue, before blitzing fellow Brit David Price in four rounds in October 2019.

The Finchley powerhouse, who is guided by former two-weight World Champion David Haye, has lofty ambitions of his own and is planning on giving Usyk nightmares in his first real test in boxing’s glamour division as he looks to pull off what would be one of the best wins by a Brit in recent years.

“I have really missed boxing,” said Usyk. “I am working hard in my training camp to show a spectacular performance on October 31. I expect a real test in Derek – he is strong, tough and resilient. He is a really big guy and he hits hard.

“As a Cruiserweight, I reached the highest heights as Undisputed Champion and now I am following the same path as a Heavyweight. I need to test myself against world class Heavyweights on my new road to Undisputed and Derek stands in front of me.

“Many people say that Derek is a monster, but deep down he is a kind man. I don’t expect to see that good side of him. I know that he wants to break me, but I am water, wind and fire all together. Derek Chisora, I am coming for you!”

“Helllllo, Usyk, I’m ready for you, helllllo Usyk!,” said Chisora. “Usyk, I’ve been ready for you all year. It’s my home turf and after such a tough year for everyone, I’m going to give the British public the Halloween party they deserve and finally get revenge for my boy Tony Bellew!”

“Yesterday’s news from the Government was a kick in the nuts, so to bounce back with this fight at this time is so important for boxing,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “You’ve either got to sit back and say ‘it’s not possible’ or find a way to make it happen, and I’ve got to say a big thanks to Team Usyk, ‘Del Boy’ and David Haye for staying patient and helping get this over the line.

“It’s an absolute firecracker and a fight that’s so important to the Heavyweight division over the next few months. We saw a stunning victory from Povetkin recently to shake up the mandatory situation, can WAR Chisora spring the upset and KO the undefeated Undisputed World Champ? I know he will do everything he can to try and get the victory and this will be another night of Heavyweight drama!”

“Oleksandr Usyk versus Derek Chisora is one of the most anticipated fights in the Heavyweight division,” said Alexander Krassyuk, General Director of K2 Promotions. “The fight was originally scheduled to take place in May, but I can assure boxing fans around the world that it will be worth the wait.

“Usyk is under huge pressure. He has to prove himself as a true Heavyweight, while Chisora has nothing to lose and is always dangerous. It will be a violent and bloody battle. I cannot wait to see them finally collide in the ring on October 31.”

“I see this fight with Usyk as the perfect opportunity for Derek to gate crash the world top 5,” said David Haye of Hayemaker Promotions. “He’s a massive underdog, with very few experts picking him to cause the upset. But I know something they don’t, I know Derek has the size, the chin and more importantly the heart to walk through hell to get this win.

“Derek cancelled his last family Christmas holiday in preparation for this very fight, and as a result has spent the best part of a year improving his boxing IQ, and building a relentless engine, he is ready to step in the ring with Usyk and wage WAR. The world will be shocked at what Halloween havoc Chisora brings to the party.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development at Sky Sports, said: “We’re very excited to announce the rescheduled date for Oleksandr Usyk versus Derek Chisora, an intriguing Heavyweight showdown with plenty at stake!

“Ukrainian star Usyk has already showcased his sublime skills on these shores in that dramatic battle with Tony Bellew, while Derek Chisora has rejuvenated his career since teaming up with his former foe David Haye.

“A potential fight with Unified Champion Anthony Joshua is already within Usyk’s grasp, but Chisora has big ambitions of his own, and with Haye by his side, could we see the battle-hardened Brit pull off a stunning upset? Usyk against Chisora has all the ingredients for a Heavyweight classic!”

Tickets purchased for the postponed event at The O2 in London on Saturday May 23 will be refunded. Please contact your point of purchase if you have any queries.

Ukrainian star meets unbeaten WBO #4 ranked contender in Chicago

Oleksandr Usyk will face Tyrone Spong on his Heavyweight debut at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on October 12, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Usyk (16-0 12 KOs) joins the big guns having dominated the Cruiserweight division, leaving the 200lbs scene as the undisputed champion after knocking out Tony Bellew in Manchester in November, his first fight in a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA.

That win for the Ukrainian 2012 Olympic king was a remarkable fourth in a row in hostile territory having won the first Cruiserweight installment of the World Boxing Super Series by beating Marco Huck, Mairis Breidis and Murat Gassiev in their backyards, unifying the division in two of those fights to lead to his clinical win in England.

Now the pound-for-pound master will look to translate his incredible success into glory at the Heavyweight division, but faces a stiff examination of those goals in the form of Spong (14-0 13 KOs).

The 33 year old Florida-based contender can make a huge statement in the Windy City and risks his #4 rating with the WBO to take on Usyk. The Surinamese-Dutchman was taken the distance for the first time in Suriname where he successfully defended his WBO and WBC Latino titles against Ytalo Perea in December, and comes into the bout on the back of a 13th KO win from 14 fights with a second round victory in Mexico on Saturday.

Spong joined the sweet science after leaving a stellar kickboxing career behind, winning 91 of his 100 bouts in a 13-year career littered with accolades and titles before officially retiring from kickboxing in April 2016 after his last bout in December 2014, turning pro in the boxing ring in March 2015.

Usyk’s status as the former long-reigning WBO king means he is the mandatory challenger for that title that Andy Ruiz Jr sensationally ripped from Anthony Joshua in New York in December along with the IBF and WBA straps, so the stakes are high for both Usyk and Spong ahead of the Ruiz Jr-Joshua rematch in December.

“I am very excited to make my Heavyweight debut in Chicago on October 12, live on DAZN,” said Usyk. “Spong is a fast and powerful Heavyweight who has had much success in the ring. I must come through this test to challenge for the World Heavyweight title I look forward to seeing everyone there.”

“After achieving most of my goals as a kick boxer and becoming one of the most decorated champions in the history of the sport, I wanted to test myself in the difficult and challenging sport of boxing. I have worked tirelessly during the last three years and now have the opportunity to prove my worth as a boxer against perhaps the best pound for pound, and most technically sound boxer in the World. Some may think the challenge may be too difficult, but I believe in myself, and look forward to being victorious on October 12.”

“Usyk’s Heavyweight debut is one of the most hotly anticipated boxing moments of 2019 and personally, I can’t wait to see it,” said Hearn. “Oleksandr is a phenomenon who dominated the Cruiserweight division becoming undisputed after just 15 fights. Now, as he prepares to challenge for the World Heavyweight title, he must first overcome Tyrone Spong in Chicago. Spong will be explosive and dangerous and we expect an electric heavyweight battle at the Wintrust Arena, live on DAZN.”

Tickets are on sale now for Usyk vs. Spong, with a stacked undercard to be released imminently. Tickets start at just $40 plus booking fees at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070057139FF02C5D

Undisputed Jr. Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts against Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena on November 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Pound-for-pound star Usyk made history by outclassing Murat Gassiev to become the first Cruiserweight to hold all four recognised belts, following his sensational World Boxing Super Series win in July.

The 31-year-old won Olympic, World and European amateur golds before steamrolling his way to the top of the Jr. Heavyweight division after only 15 fights, but former WBC World Champion Bellew believes he will become the first man to beat Usyk on November 10.

A glittering career has seen Bellew win British, Commonwealth, European and World titles, and the Liverpudlian warrior is aiming for a fairytale ending in Manchester, hinting that this could be his final battle before he retires.

“I’ve been preparing for this fight for a long time and I’m delighted that we’ve got the venue and the date finalised – I cannot wait to fight in the UK,” said Usyk. “I am deep into my training camp with my team, working hard and preparing for a long fight with Tony. He says he will beat me and I love his attitude, but you cannot beat-up somebody who is invisible in the ring! As always, I will be victorious on Nov 10.”

“This is the ultimate test for me,” said Bellew. “There is no greater test than Oleksandr Usyk, he is one of the most feared men in boxing. This is nothing new to me, everyone says that I can’t do it again. Everyone is saying that I’ll get beat-up quickly, but we’ll find out won’t we.

“Make no mistake, I know this is the most dangerous fight of my life but I’m also going into this with my eyes wide open, I’m not in awe of Usyk. I won’t stand and admire him and allow him to rattle off five-punch combinations on my head.

“He’s meeting someone now who’s just as quick as him, someone that’s competed at a division lighter than him and someone that’s come across fighters much more powerful than him.

“I’m going into this fight with absolutely nothing to lose because the whole World thinks I’m going to get smashed. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. On November 10 I’m going to do something that nobody has ever done before, I’m going to knockout an undisputed Cruiserweight Champion of the World.”

“It’s an absolute honour to promote Britain’s first ever undisputed title fight in the history of the sport,” said Eddie Hearn. “This one of the biggest and best fights in boxing with Tony Bellew daring to be great against one of the top pound-for-pounders in the sport in Oleksandr Usyk.

“Tony has won British, Commonwealth, European and World titles and after the two big wins against David Haye we felt it might be time to walk away, but with him constantly improving and the lure of becoming undisputed king, the temptation was too much. For Oleksandr, the plan is to finish his chapter at Cruiserweight on November 10 and then move up to Heavyweight where he will chase a fight with unified World Champion Anthony Joshua. This is going to be a thrilling fight on a huge night of boxing in Manchester – November 10 can’t come soon enough!”

“I cannot wait for this fight,” said Alex Krassyuk of K2 Promotions. “Two lionhearted warriors will collide for all of the Cruiserweight World titles. This is fight that the World has been waiting for and I’m delighted to be part of history in the making.

“Many experts don’t give Tony a chance in this fight but he has proved many times that being an underdog does not mean being a loser. I can’t see Usyk having an easy walk in the park on November 10. This is the biggest opportunity of Tony’s career and he has nothing to lose, this makes him very dangerous.

“All of our focus is on Tony Bellew and November 10 but once Usyk defeats him he will be targeting the king of the Heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua.”

Photo by Mark Robinson

Tony Bellew will return to the cruiserweight division after it was confirmed he will challenge undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk on November 10.

Ukrainian Usyk will put his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts on the line at Manchester Arena when he takes on Bellew, who moved up to heavyweight for his last two bouts.

The Englishman, who previously held the WBC title in the cruiserweight division, had suggested he could retire after defeating domestic rival David Haye for a second time in May.

However, Bellew has decided to carry on fighting after accepting the chance to take on the unbeaten Usyk, insisting he can once again upset the odds.

Usyk won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and is 15-0 since turning pro, unifying the cruiserweight division in July by beating Murat Gassiev on points in Moscow.

“I’ve been preparing for this fight for a long time and I’m delighted that we’ve got the venue and the date finalised – I cannot wait to fight in the UK,” he said.

“I am deep into my training camp with my team, working hard and preparing for a long fight with Tony. He says he will beat me and I love his attitude, but you cannot beat up somebody who is invisible in the ring!”

Photo by Mark Robinson

Undisputed Jr. Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts against Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena on November 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Pound-for-pound star Usyk made history by outclassing Murat Gassiev to become the first Jr. Heavyweight to hold all four recognised belts, following his sensational World Boxing Super Series win in July.

The 31-year-old won Olympic, World and European amateur golds before steamrolling his way to the top of the Jr. Heavyweight division after only 15 fights, but former WBC World Champion Bellew believes he will become the first man to beat Usyk on November 10.

A glittering career has seen Bellew win British, Commonwealth, European and World titles, and the Liverpudlian warrior is aiming for a fairytale ending in Manchester, hinting that this could be his final battle before he retires.

“I’ve been preparing for this fight for a long time and I’m delighted that we’ve got the venue and the date finalised – I cannot wait to fight in the UK,” said Usyk. “I am deep into my training camp with my team, working hard and preparing for a long fight with Tony. He says he will beat me and I love his attitude, but you cannot beat-up somebody who is invisible in the ring! As always, I will be victorious on Nov 10.”

“This is the ultimate test for me,” said Bellew. “There is no greater test than Oleksandr Usyk, he is one of the most feared men in boxing. This is nothing new to me, everyone says that I can’t do it again. Everyone is saying that I’ll get beat-up quickly, but we’ll find out won’t we.

“Make no mistake, I know this is the most dangerous fight of my life but I’m also going into this with my eyes wide open, I’m not in awe of Usyk. I won’t stand and admire him and allow him to rattle off five-punch combinations on my head.

“He’s meeting someone who’s just as quick as him, someone that’s competed at a division lighter than him and someone that’s come across fighters much more powerful than him.

“I’m going into this fight with absolutely nothing to lose because the whole World thinks I’m going to get smashed. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. On November 10 I’m going to do something that nobody has ever done before, I’m going to knockout an undisputed Cruiserweight Champion of the World.”

“It’s an absolute honour to promote Britain’s first ever undisputed title fight in the history of the sport,” said Eddie Hearn. “This one of the biggest and best fights in boxing with Tony Bellew daring to be great against one of the top pound-for-pounders in the sport in Oleksandr Usyk.

“Tony has won British, Commonwealth, European and World titles and after the two big wins against David Haye we felt it might be time to walk away, but with him constantly improving and the lure of becoming undisputed king, the temptation was too much. For Oleksandr, the plan is to finish his chapter at Cruiserweight on November 10 and then move up to Heavyweight where he will chase a fight with unified World Champion Anthony Joshua. This is going to be a thrilling fight on a huge night of boxing in Manchester – November 10 can’t come soon enough!”

“I cannot wait for this fight,” said Alex Krassyuk of K2 Promotions. “Two lionhearted warriors will collide for all of the Cruiserweight World titles. This is a fight that the World has been waiting for and I’m delighted to be part of history in the making.

“Many experts don’t give Tony a chance in this fight but he has proved many times that being an underdog does not mean being a loser. I can’t see Usyk having an easy walk in the park on November 10. This is the biggest opportunity of Tony’s career and he has nothing to lose, this makes him very dangerous.

“All of our focus is on Tony Bellew and November 10 but once Usyk defeats him he will be targeting the king of the Heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua.”

WBO Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk is sparring with former WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko to stay sharp to get him ready for his next bout which will be announced soon.

“Usykaa Great sparring, with a great champion. #usyk #lomachenko #boxing #wladimirklitschko #ukraine # lomus # usyk17,” Usyk said on his Instagram on Wednesday.

Sparring with Wladimir will help Usyk later on when he starts tackling the huge heavyweight giants in the division.

SOURCE: https://www.boxingnews24.com/2018/09/oleksandr-usyk-sparring-wladimir-klitschko/

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Oleksandr Usyk took Murat Gassiev to school Saturday night.

The intelligent, skillful southpaw masterfully out-boxed the hard-hitting Gassiev in their 12-round cruiserweight title unification fight at Olympic Stadium in Moscow. Ukraine’s Usyk used his stiff jab throughout their fight, landed occasional combinations, defended himself well against Gassiev’s right hand and won a unanimous decision to become their division’s undisputed champion.

Each of the three judges – Americans Mauro Di Fiore (119-109) and Robin Taylor (120-108) and Belgium’s Philippe Verbeke (119-109) – credited Usyk with a decisive victory in the final of the World Boxing Super Series’ cruiserweight tournament. The 31-year-old Usyk (15-0, 11 KOs) defended his WBC and WBO cruiserweight titles and took the IBF and WBA crowns from Russia’s Gassiev (26-1, 19 KOs).

As the World Boxing Super Series’ cruiserweight champion, Usyk also won the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

Usyk, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, fought at too fast of a pace for Gassiev, who rarely was able to hit Usyk with clean punches. At times toward the end of their fight, Gassiev looked dejected and resigned to losing a decision.

The elusive Usyk spent the last two rounds peppering Gassiev with his jab, connecting with right hooks and keeping away from Gassiev’s right hand.

Usyk’s left uppercut-right hook combination connected about a minute into the 10th round. Usyk also backed up Gassiev with a right hook just after the halfway point of the 10th.

Usyk continued to out-box Gassiev in the ninth round, when he worked off his jab and threw occasional combinations that kept Gassiev from letting his hands go.

Usyk’s skill won him the eighth round, as he consistently pumped his jab and moved out of Gassiev’s punching range. Usyk’s four-punch combination backed up Gassiev and was the highlight of the eighth round.

Referee Celestino Ruiz warned Gassiev for a low blow in a third straight round when Gassiev landed a punch below Usyk’s belt in the seventh round. Gassiev just missed with a hard right hand later in the seventh, during which Usyk continued to box and defend himself well.

Gassiev landed a left hook soon after the midway point of the sixth round, but Usyk fired back with a left-right combination that landed. Ruiz warned Gassiev for a low blow in the sixth, the second straight round he warned Gassiev.

Gassiev’s hard right hand shook up Usyk at the end of the fourth round, but he began the fifth round on strong legs and got back to pumping his jab and moving away from Gassiev’s dominant hand. Ruiz warned Gassiev for a low blow with around 30 seconds left in the fifth round.

Gassiev’s hard overhand right hand caught Usyk flush on the jaw and caused him to hold just before the fourth round ended.

Usyk’s stiff jab snapped back Gassiev’s head with about two minutes remaining in the fourth round. Approximately a minute later, Usyk moved away and made Gassiev miss wildly with a right hand.

A counter left hook by Gassiev grazed the side of Usyk’s head and was his best punch of the third round.

Gassiev landed a solid left hook to the body with just over two minutes to go in the second round. Gassiev connected with another left to the body late in the second round.

Usyk didn’t land anything heavy in the first round, but he controlled it with his jab and activity. Usyk also moved in the opposite direction of Gassiev’s dangerous right hand throughout the first round.

Gassiev advanced to the final by knocking out Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos (22-1, 21 KOs) in the 12th round of their semifinal February 3 in Sochi, Russia. Usyk reached the final by beating Mairis Briedis (24-1, 18 KOs) by majority decision in their semifinal January 27 in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown.

Gassiev and Usyk were supposed to meet in the WBSS final May 11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Usyk suffered an elbow injury in training, though, and it was postponed until Saturday and moved to Moscow.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.

https://www.boxingscene.com/usyk-dominates-gassiev-results–130180

Undefeated WBC and WBO World Title Holder Oleksandr Usyk set to Battle Undefeated IBF and WBA Champion Murat Gassiev for the Unification of the Four Jr. Heavyweight Belts Live and Exclusively on KlowdTV

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – July 17, 2018 – On Saturday afternoon, July 21st, the world’s best and undefeated cruiserweights, Oleksandr Uysk and Murat Gassiev, will battle for four world titles and the bragging rights to be crowned the undisputed World Jr. Heavyweight Champ. Both fighters possess perfect undefeated records, tremendous explosive power, and with the winner taking all the major recognized belts, this is the must-watch battle of the year. This amazing showdown featuring Usyk v Gassiev for the undisputed Jr. Heavyweight championship and will air live and exclusively on KlowdTV in the United States.

The bout will take place in Moscow, Russia beginning at 3 PM ET. “We are very proud to be able to bring this outstanding fight to KlowdTV,” said Robert Herring Sr., CEO of KlowdTV. “I know how much interest there is in this fight from all the interest on boxing sites and social media. The fans have been clamoring for the fight to find a United States home, and KlowdTV is once again stepping up to answer the call of US boxing fans.”

Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) of Kiev, Ukraine is WBC and WBO Jr. Heavyweight world champion.
The 2012 Olympic Gold Medal winner won the WBO world title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Krzysztof Glowacki on September 17, 2016 in Poland. Usyk defended the title twice with a 9th round stoppage over Thabiso Mchunu and a 12-round unanimous decision over Michael Hunter.

Usyk scored a 10th round stoppage over former world champion Marco Huck. In his latest bout, Usyk captured the WBC World Cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Mairis Briedis on January 27th in Latvia.

Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) of Russia, is the IBF and WBA Super Cruiserweight champion.
Gassiev now trains in Big Bear, California under famed trainer Abel Sanchez. The 24-year-old Gassiev won IBF championship on December 3, 2016 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Denis Lebedev.

Gassiev registered a 3rd round destruction of former world champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. In his last bout, Gassiev won the WBA World Super Cruiserweight title with a 12th round stoppage over previously undefeated Yunier Dorticos on February 3, 2018.

KlowdTV is your 24/7 live streaming service, featuring over 30 live channels plus 50 music channels. The fight is free to KlowdTV subscribers. New subscribers can enjoy the fight for the $9.99/month subscription fee, which includes numerous live channels including Fight Network, GolTV, FNTSY Sports Network, Pursuit Channel, Sony Movie Channel and more. Simply visit www.klowdtv.com to enjoy this “can’t-miss” fight and 30 days of KlowdTV for just $9.99 per month. KlowdTV can be accessed on any device that includes Smart TV’s, computers, ROKU, Amazon, Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Press Release: Ukraine’s WBO/WBC Jr. Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, is looking forward to the historic Ali Trophy Final against WBA/IBF champion Murat Gassiev on July 21st in Moscow, Russia, Gassiev’s home country. The 31-year-old Usyk (14-0 with 11 KOs plus additional World Series of Boxing pro bouts) won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and has prepared for Gassiev at the Olympic Village in Kiev.

Here is a question-and-answer session with him.

Q: How are you feeling with the big final approaching?

A; “I’m fine. I have a family, I have close friends, I have a great job. What else can a person dream of? I feel great!”

Q: How do you remember your semi-final victory over Mairis Briedis to win the WBC title?

A: “I don’t live in the past. I try to move forward. My victory over Mairis happened on the 27th of January. Of course, I have good memories, I got another belt and reached the final, but now we have a new stage.”

Q: You were watching Murat’s semi-final against Yunier Dorticos live in Sochi, Russia. What was your impression?

A: “The fight was perfect, two great guys who found out who is the strongest.”

Q: What kind of fighter is Murat?

A: “You can watch on YouTube … I will only say this: he is a strong guy. And now, thank God, Murat and I will fight for the Muhammad Ali Trophy and the ‘absolute world champion’ title.

Q: How would you characterize the training camp?

A: “I get up at 4:50 a.m. every morning and set myself on fire. To rebuild, you have to burn yourself, so I have been burning! I enjoy the hard training, I love the pressure, can you believe it? Maybe I am a little bit crazy.”

Q: How have you been sparring?

A: “We tried to find someone who has the same style as Murat. It is important. When they do the same work as Murat does, it will help me to train the particular combinations to use against him.”

Q: How is your training facility?

A; “Is it a perfect gym. I spent a lot of time there before the Olympics. I have lived and trained there for many years. It is a base where it smells like sports spirit. It smells like work.”

Q: What is the most important in your training?

A: “Discipline. One of the most important components a fighter needs in order to achieve the highest success is discipline. Discipline beats everything.”

Q: How is it for you to fight in Russia?

A: “Do I look like I am afraid to fight anywhere? I feel excellent about it. I am an athlete, a warrior. I do not care where I fight, I just want to fight.”

Q: How about your fans …?

“I know there will be support coming in from Ukraine which is great.“

Q: How is the mood in the team before going to Moscow?

A: “I am ready, my team is ready. We are all going to Moscow in good mood.”

Q: What can the fight fans all over the world expect from the final?

A: “When the strong guys meet, the fights are interesting! This is what is so great about this tournament. It is necessary for the sport. I have said it before and I will say it again: the fans should expect a beautiful final!”

The winner of Usyk-Gassiev on July 21 at the Olympic Sports Complex in Moscow will be the first boxer ever to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy and unify the cruiserweight titles in the four belt era.

http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=35419

WBSS Final Usyk vs. Gassiev a Hot Ticket in Moscow

The final bout of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) cruiserweight tournament is a very hot ticket.

The contest takes place on July 21 at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

In the final bout, unbeaten world champions Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine and Murat Gassiev of Russia will collide for the WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC world titles.

Initially, the fight was scheduled to take place on May 11 and was due to happen in Saudi Arabia, but the event was postponed because of an injury to the Ukrainian boxer.

“I was ready to fight with Usyk anywhere in the world,” Gassiev said. “I’m confident that our fight will turn out great. The winner will get everything.”

Usyk is not worried about taking the fight in Gassiev’s backyard. He captured both of his titles, the WBO and WBC, by beating the champions on their home soil.

“Once again I’m going to fight in the territory of my opponent,” Usyk said. “I successfully coped with this in the quarter-finals and in the semifinals. Now I’m going to win in Moscow. ”

In the quarter finals of the Super Series, Usyk defeated traveled over to Germany to stop former world champion Marco Huck by technical knockout in a match was held in Berlin, and in the semi-finals the Ukrainian boxer won a unanimous decision over undefeated Latvian Maris Briedis in a bout that took place before a hot crowd in Riga.

Gassiev is the world champion under the versions of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Association (WBA). His fearsome record includes 26 wins (19 – by knockout) and no defeats. And as far as Usyk, he’s holding the world titles of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and has clean record of 14 wins (11 – by knockout), no defeats.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.

https://www.boxingscene.com/usyk-vs-gassiev-hot-ticket-moscow-7000-sold-first-day–129602

WBO Unified Jr. Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk, and the WBA and IBF Champion, Russian boxer Murat Gassiev will contest the final of the Super World Series of Boxing.

The fight between Usyk (14-0, 11 КОs) and Gassiev (26-0, 19 КОs) will be held on July 21 in Moscow at the Olympic Stadium Sports Complex, confirmed The President of the Russian Boxing Federation Umar Kremlev.

Previously, the Ukrainian boxer Usyk said he was willing to fight Murat Gassiev anywhere in the world.

Usyk and Gassiev were fighting on May 11, but the fight was postponed due to an injury suffered by the Ukrainian boxer.

WBO cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk beat WBC title holder Mairis Briedis by a majority points decision to unify the belts.

The two met in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament and Usyk won 115-113, 115-113 and 114-114 in Latvia.

He will now meet the winner of IBF champion Murat Gassiev against WBA belt holder Yunier Dorticos in the final.

2012 Olympic Champion, 30-year-old Usyk expressed before the tournament his desire to unify the belts in the cruiserweight division and to take home the Muhammad Ali Trophy. And he kicked off in style:

The Ukrainian went to Berlin in Germany on September 9 in the tournament opener and produced a spectacular display at the Max-Schmeling-Arena to stop former world champion Marco Huck in the 10th round.

“I do not care where I fight,” said Usyk, the tournament’s number one seed. “In Riga, there were 10,000 fans and that’s great. The fans received a beautiful and interesting battle between two world champions.”

32-year-old Briedis excited an ecstatic hometown crowd at a sold-out Arena Riga on September 30 to score a unanimous decision in his quarter-final over the tough Cuban challenger Mike Perez.

The event will conclude in May and features a $50m prize fund.

That pool will be split across two tournaments, one for super-middleweights and one for cruiserweights, with each featuring eight fighters competing from a quarter-final stage.

Whoever wins the cruiserweight section will hold all four belts.

Usyk’s hard-fought win over Briedis extended the 31-year-old’s career record to 14 fights without defeat.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-usyk-toughest-test-beats-briedis-unify-belts–124723?print_friendly=1

Date:  Saturday, September 9, 2017

WBO JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany 

Promoter:  Sauerland Event / Wilfried Sauerland

Supervisor:   Istvan Kovacs

Referee: Robert Byrd

Judges:  Zoltan Enyedi, Matteo Montella, Robin Taylor

Results:   WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) successfully defended his title in stopping former champion Marco Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs) in the 10th round.

TV:  Canada Super Channel, Germany SAT.1

By Alexey Sukachev

Berlin, Germany – In the first bout of the World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight tournament, Oleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) scored a tenth round stoppage of former champion Marco Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs) to retain the WBO Jr. Heavyweight title.

Usyk will now have to face the winner of the September 30th clash between WBC champion Mairis Briedis and Mike Perez, which takes place in Latvia.

The tournament has been given to us by Comosa AG – a specifically created franchise, which has familiar names of Richard Schaefer and Sauerland Event behind it – is a play-off style tournament between the certain division’s best fighters. The tournament formula has previously proved to be successful in both long-time and short-period formats.

In round one, Usyk, 30 years old, stayed at the distance, using his excellent footwork to avoid long, lean power shots of the former WBO Jr. Heavyweight champion. Huck was reserved and fought behind his trademark high guard. Huck exploded during the last minute of the round, landing several hard shots on the gloves of Usyk, wisely attached to he back of his head, as the German tried to apply his well-known dirty tactics to distract the Ukrainian. Usyk retaliated with body shots.

The second saw the champion utilizing his potent southpaw jab to keep Huck at bay. The Kapt’n was powerful enough to make his way throw those connections but not enough power to trouble Usyk on the inside. The Ukrainian bombed Huck during the last minute of the round and hurt him at the ropes with several straight left hands. Usyk’s jab was at is prettiest in the third, as he peppered the veteran one-two-three more times. WBO #9 and TBRB #10 Huck tried straight right hands against the Ukrainian southpaw but landed few, as the champion perfectly controlled the distance, forcing the German to miss badly. Usyk exploded with short left power punches at the end of the round. Huck was pinned to the ropes and lucky not to go down after several clear landings.

Clinches appeared as a new weapon for Huck in the fourth. But to apply clinch you should be near your opponent, and Huck had increasingly harder time getting in throw major right jab of Usyk. The German landed a huge right hand to warn Usyk at the end of the second minute of the round, but the Ukrainian retaliated with hard damaging blows, once again pummeling the veteran fighter around the ring. Usyk was the boss of the fifth, as he kept stalking Huck and pinning him with big left hands. The challenger’s outbursts were scarce, producing little effect on his onrushing opponent. The end of the round saw Huck reeling, with the smiling Ukrainian landing one punch after another.

The sixth wasn’t a busy round for both. Usyk looked for a short pause, and Huck was battered enough where he was unable to produce meaningful offensive against the Ukrainian. However, in the seventh, the battering continued for the 32-year old German Bosnian, whose birth name is Muamer Hukic. Usyk was all over Huck during the last two minutes of the round, dealing damage to the German, playing with him, beating him to the punch.

The Battery continued into the eighth, as Usyk was once again all over Huck. Marco showed solid chin and will to withstand the champion’s attacks and to retaliate, though the counter fire was sparse. Usyk tried to went in for kill after landing a huge left bomb at the end of the round but he slipped, and the German immediately hit him with a right hand while Usyk was down. Referee Robert Byrd interrupted the action and deducted a point from Huck.

The Ukrainian continued to humiliate Huck in the ninth, and the German’s mild successes were becoming increasingly rare. Huck was landing punches below the beltline yet he was hurt several times in the ninth. Usyk mixed body shots and head punches to double the effect

The logic end of a one-sided beatdown was reached in the tenth round. Usyk applied a non-stop aggression towards Huck, missing almost zero punches and landing them at will. Huck, his face reddened, had been wobbling around the ring in pain for two minutes, before the referee finally waved it off at 2:50 of the tenth.

www.boxingscene.com/photos-usyk-dominates-stops-marco-huck-tenth-round–120335?print_friendly=1

Date:   Saturday, April 8, 2017

WBO JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, USA

Promoter:  Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   John Duggan, Esq.

Referee:  Bill Clancy,

Judges:   Dave Braslow (117-110), Lynne Carter (117-110), Jamie Garayua (117-110)

Results:  Oleksandr Usyk retained the WBO Jr. Heavyweight title with a pretty one-sided win tonight over Michael Hunter,  staying undefeated with an unanimous decision win.

TV:   HBO

UsykTomLoefflerEgisKlimas033017B-400x400 Photo: K2 promotion –

By Przemek Garczarczyk –

Tom Loeffler, K2 managing director spoke with Fightnews.com about the second US WBO title defense by Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk (11-0, 10 KO) who will defend his title against undefeated Michael Hunter (12-0, 8 KO) and Gvozdyk-Gonzalez will be part of an April 8th HBO live telecast undercard on Vasyl Lomachenko – Jason Sosa WBO super featherweight title bout from MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

“Usyk has this X factor to excite fans. Similar to Chocolatito Gonzalez. Flyweights, super flyweights – these divisions weren’t getting a lot of attention. Especially in America. Because of his exciting style in the ring, his charisma outside it and exposure on HBO, Chocolatito became one of the fan’s favorites. Exactly the same thing can happen with Usyk – even without a lot of attention around cruiserweight division right now. Hopefully, with HBO’s help, we can bring the best cruiserweight fights to the US from Europe and Russia where most of the best fights are happening right now,” said Loeffler.

Q: Oleksandr Usyk, we all got the message that he’s the best cruiserweight in the world, his reign over belts is coming…but he likes to talk about fighting as a heavyweight. Kind of mixed message.

A: The other part is rather answering the question if he considers fighting as a heavyweight. Usyk clearly wants to unify all the titles in the cruiserweight division and whet timing is right he will consider becoming heavyweight. Because of his frame, talent, his technical skills and speed he can make a successful transition into heavyweight division. But first things first… 

Q: GGG all the belts plan, cruiserweight edition?

A: Absolutely. He just won a world title, beating the best cruiserweight in the world and breaking Evander Holyfield record. Even with these accomplishments, Usyk has still a lot more do. But, as we see with Golovkin, it’s not as easy to get all the title fights – even when you are ready to chase belts in guy’s back yard.

Q: I was a little underwhelmed with his US debut – especially the first part – of Thabiso Mchunu bout. Was Oleksandr a victim of his own – also ours – expectations? Were we wrong, expecting heavier version of Gennady Golovkin?

A: I don’t think so. It was simply a testament to Mchunu experience, his never easy to fight, slick and tricky southpaw style. He deserves credit – Mchunu stepped up to fight Usyk, when others said no. Even though it was a slow start for Usyk, he was still able to figure Mchunu out – and stop him. Michael Hunter is much more conventional style than Mchunu. He’s young, undefeated, has experience from being in the Olympics – definitely it will be a tough test for Usyk. Styles matchup in this fight will be definitely pleasing for the fans. Just like Oleksandr bout with Głowacki – and clearly at that time Głowacki was the best cruiserweight in the world. With only ten pro fights, he went to best champion home, Poland, and won unanimously. You can’t say enough how good he was there, on the champion home ring.

Q: In my 25+ years covering boxing in US, this is – at least – third attempt to resurrect cruiserweight division. Cunningham, Adamek, then Głowacki tried that, having great, sometimes spectacular fights on TV. It did not work. Now is Usyk time, with probably unprecedented list of great cruiserweights?

A: Usyk has this X factor to do it. No matter which division he’s in. Similar to Chocolatito Gonzalez. Flyweights, super flyweights – that divisions weren’t getting a lot of attention. Especially in America. Because of his exciting style in the ring, his charisma outside it and exposure on HBO, Chocolatito became one of the fans favorite. Exactly the same thing can happen with Usyk – even without a lot of attention around cruiserweight division right now. Hopefully, with HBO help, we can bring the best cruiserweights fights to US from Europe, Russia where most of the best fights are happening right now. This is such a deep division, in Europe, one of the most popular. Mairis Briedis from Latvia just became a new champion, there’s Murat Gassiev, Tony Bellew, Głowacki… there’s so many great fighters. Cruiserweights are always great athletes – big, with speed and big punch. Heavyweights, because they don’t make weight, you see a lot of them out of shape, not in the most exciting fights. There’s an extra pressure on cruiserweights, especially in America, because you have to stand out as a boxer. Just like it was on Chocolatito, who knew he can not bring boring fights to make people interested. He delivered.

Q: Times are changing. Vasyl Lomachenko challenged for world title in his just second professional fight, now, with less than ten fights, Loma is considered one of the best P4P fighters in the world. Usyk became universally recognized world champion in his 10 pro fight. Not long time ago, it was simply unthinkable.

A: Just like it was unthinkable to have three fighters from country other than US fighting as A-side on HBO tripleheader – it will happen this Saturday with Ukrainians Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk. Because they are talented, they have an exciting style. Fans recognize that. Back to your question: there’s a lot more attention – and acknowledgement – to fighters amateur careers. Both Lomachenko and Usyk were Olympic champions, had great amateur career. Transition from amateur to pro fighter becomes easy when you have amateur pedigree combined with punching power. GGG, Usyk – perfect examples. Usyk was build up by K2 Ukraine, was very popular, selling out big arenas even before he went to Poland and become world champion. Now, he’s successfully defending his title in America, on HBO… but he did not forgot his roots – as I understand, he’s ready for a big homecoming. Being from Crimea – is just part of his national pride. Usyk wants to come back and show his connection, prove to Ukrainian fans that he remembers their early support.

Q: Your personal cruiserweight TOP 5:

A: I think we can agree that Oleksandr Usyk is number 1. Number 2 – Murat Gassiev. Just 23 years old, he went to Moscow and beat very good Denis Lebedev. His age distinguishes Murat from anyone else. No big amateur career but training with Abel Sanchez, power he brings with him, sets Murat apart. Number 3-4, tie: you have look at Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew. Tony always seems to be underrated and he always finds the way to win! I like him, we met through Eddie Hearn at WBC convention, he’s really likable guy. When I saw him standing next to David Haye, on the scales, at the weigh in, I was thinking: ‘Wow Eddie, it will be a tough fight…”. Number 5: Krzysztof Głowacki, because his win over Huck. He was very impressive with the way he knocked Marco out and he might have softened up Huck for Briedis. Lebedev is very close, but I think Głowacki is better under pressure. Very close. There’s also Yunier Dorticos, hearing good things about him, but he did not have any stand out wins – yet.

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/tom-loeffler-time-usyk-become-fan-favorite-399735

usyk-glowacki (7)

By Thomas Gerbasi

When he’s not punching someone in the face, Oleksandr Usyk can usually be found with a smile on his face, a joke coming out of his mouth, magic tricks, or maybe even a song bellowing out to the world. In the process, it’s made the WBO cruiserweight champion pretty popular these days.

“I’m already popular?” he asks through manager / translator Egis Klimas. “I’m surprised.”

He shouldn’t be. In a division that has always had good fighters but often fell short in terms of crossover potential and charisma, the 30-year-old Ukrainian is bringing new life to the cruiserweights. But as far as he’s concerned, he’s just being himself.

“If I am smiling, if I am laughing, that’s a true laugh and a true smile,” he said. “If I need to be serious, I am serious because I have to be serious at that point. Since I was a kid, I always was happy, I always was joking. I like jokes, I like comedy movies, I like to talk to people, and I just want to be myself. If I’m going to go to the fight, I am serious and I put my mind into it. If I need to be aggressive, I’ll be aggressive. But the most important thing for me is to be myself.”

This Saturday, the American introduction of Usyk continues with an HBO-televised title defense against fellow unbeaten Michael Hunter at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. In December, Usyk fought on U.S. shores for the first time as a pro, dispatching Thabiso Mchunu in nine rounds at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

It wasn’t a flawless performance like the kinds turned in from friend and fellow world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko, but it was a fun fight to watch and one that made you want to see him again. This weekend, it’s time for him to build off that effort against another 2012 Olympian in Hunter.

On paper, it’s a marketable fight between two boxers with similar pro records, but Usyk’s 11-0 (10 KOs) looks a lot different than Hunter’s 12-0 (8 KOs) when it comes to quality of opposition. Then again, as Usyk points out, the past means nothing when they still have to fight on Saturday.

“Everybody has his own road and his own way,” he said. “He (Hunter) went that direction, I went this direction, and I can’t determine who had the harder or better amateur career. We will see on April 8th.”

oleksandr-usyk (6)_1

What does bear watching is if Usyk can continue to build his fan base here in the States, and with K2 Promotions and Klimas behind him, that’s a given if he keeps winning impressively. Of course, that doesn’t make the time away from his family back in Kiev any easier, but that is a price he’s willing to pay.

“I’m focusing on what I’m doing, and right now I’m focused on my fight on April 8th,” Usyk said. “If I’m going to be thinking about family or how hard it is to be here…this is my job. Everybody knows that I came here to do my job and that’s what I’m focused on. Of course, I think about my kids, I talk to them, and this is what gives me the motivation. I talk to my wife and my kids and I miss them, but I am here for the job. And as soon as it’s done, I’ll go back home and spend a lot of time with my family and we’re gonna laugh, joke and have a good time.”

First there’s work to be done, and with new trainer Russ Anber in the corner, Usyk is determined to dispatch Hunter and move on to the business everyone is asking him about, and that’s unifying the cruiserweight crown.

“I would like to unify the titles,” he said. “And if we can meet each other and find out who’s the best, who’s the real cruiserweight champion, that would be ideal.”

It also used to be a fairly easy task when there were three sanctioning bodies, but now with four “major” belts and some multiple titlists in particular organizations, Usyk can conceivably be looking at five fights to get through each belt holder. Add in promotional entanglements and the politics of making a unification fight, and it could be more trouble than it’s worth. But if it gets to that point, Usyk has no intention of dealing with such issues. He’ll simply accelerate his move to his final frontier – the heavyweight division.

“If it’s not gonna happen, it’s not gonna happen,” he said of cruiserweight unification. “I’m not going to be just waiting for someone to come here. I’ll move to the heavyweight division.”

Then the real fun begins.

www.boxingscene.com/usyk-aims-goal-unifying-cruiserweight-division–115305?print_friendly=1

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

By Vadim Pushkin – WBO cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (11-0, 9 KOs) arrived at the International airport Borispol of Kiev, Ukraine to a hero’s welcome. After his arrival, Usyk held press conference with the local media to discuss the future of his career.

Last Saturday night at The Forum in Los Angeles, Usyk made his American debut with a ninth round stoppage of Thabiso Mchunu (17-3, 11 KOs). It was Usyk introduction to the American audience as the fight was televised by HBO.

Usyk will make his return on March 18th at Madison Square Garden in New York City. That evening will be headlined by the highly anticipated middleweight fight between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs. Both Golovkin and Usyk are promoted by K2 Promotions.

The fight will be the second defense for Usyk and his second appearance in the United States.

Usyk had some issues at the start of his first run on American soil, but eventually adjusted and then put Mchunu away.

“I’m very happy with my performance, he was awkward but I’m glad I was able to win by knockout,” said Oleksander Usyk. “Once I was able to find my range and throw combinations my power was too much for him.”

K2 Promotions head and former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was sitting at ringside and watched the contest unfold. He was pleased with Usyk performance despite his issues in the early rounds.

“In these types of fights you gain experience. They are uncomfortable for a couple of rounds, but its the type of experience that makes you even better. I was very pleased with the fight. There were a lot of mistakes, but this is the kind of fight that raises you to another level,” Vitali Klitschko said.

oleksandr-usyk-6_1

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in Kiev

www.boxingscene.com/photos-oleksandr-usyk-arrives-home-heros-welcome–111972?print_friendly=1

Date:   Saturday, December 17, 2016

WBO JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   Forum, Inglewood, California, USA

Promoter:   K-2 Promotions  – Tom Loeffler  / Main Events – Kathy Duva

Supervisor:  Genaro Rodriguez

Referee: Lou Morel

Judges: Jonathan Davis 79-72, Kermit Bayless 79-72 and Levi Martinez 77-74

Results: Oleksandr Usyk Won by KO round 9 of 12, time 1:53

TV: USA HBO, Panama Cable Onda Sports, Latin America: Canal Space

screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-12-15-43-pm screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-12-12-40-pm

 

By Allan Fox: Boxing fans are going to get a chance to see whether WBO Cruiserweight titlist Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0, 16 KOs) is for real or not when he defends his WBO title against #1 challenger Oleksandr Usyk (9-0, 9 KOs) this Saturday night at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.

Glowacki will be fighting at home in front of friendly audience but it might not help him, because Usyk appears to be the real thing. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine has the size, punching and the boxing ability to beat Glowacki in front of his own fans. Glowacki has won his last two fights on the road against Steve Cunningham and Marco Huck in the United States. 

The win over the 40-year-old Cunningham was expected, because that was just a voluntary defense and not expected to be a particularly competitive match. It ended up being a competitive fight, as Cunningham exposed Glowacki’s vulnerability in getting out-boxed.

Glowacki was fine when he was knocking Cuningham down four times in the fight. But when Glowacki wasn’t able to knock Cunningham down, he was losing the rounds due to him getting outworked and hit a lot. If Usyk is able to nail Glowacki as often as Cunningham and Huck did, then this fight won’t last very long. Glowacki gets hit too much and he can be hurt, as we saw in his fight against Huck.

“I feel terrific and I’m completely focused on winning the world championship,” Usyk said via espn.com. “This was my next goal after winning the gold medal in 2012.”

The 6’3” Usyk has the height, reach and the superior defensive skills of the two. It’s not easy to hit Usyk without running into one of his hard left hands or powerful jabs. Glowacki is going to need to be a little more subtle in his attacking style of fighting, because he has a bad habit of telegraphing his shots. You can always tell when Glowacki is about to throw one of his big left hands, because he loads up and puts his entire body into the shot.

Usyk is always going to know when Glowacki is getting ready to land a shot because he’s going to telegraph his punches each. That’ll enable Usyk to step back to avoid the shot.

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If Usyk can capture Glowacki’s World Boxing Organization title, he would become the quickest champion in the cruiserweight division’s history. Usyk has fought only nine times since turning pro several years ago after winning a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. This would be big news if Usyk can beat Glowacki in his home country. Usyk is going into the lion’s den in challenging for his WBO title. He might need a knockout to get out of there with Glowacki’s WBO title.

Glowacki appears to be a good cruiserweight, but he’s been beating flawed fighters in Huck and Cunningham. Huck held the WBO title for a number of years, but he was always a fairly primitive fighter who won his fights based off his raw power rather than his boxing skills, which you can argue are rudimentary.

Prediction: Usyk by 6th round knockout over Glowacki.

www.boxingnews24.com/2016/09/krzysztof-glowacki-vs-oleksandr-usyk/

glowakiusyk

By Jake Donovan

Krzysztof Glowacki and Oleksandr Usyk both made weight ahead of their highly anticipated title clash, the latest in a continued series of thrilling bouts in the current state of the cruiserweight division.

Both came within the 200 lb. division limit; Glowacki tipped the scales at 199.3 lbs., while Usyk checked in at a shredded 198.75 lbs. for their headliner Saturday evening at Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.

Glowacki (26-0, 16KOs) will attempt the second defense of the cruiserweight title he annexed in thrilling – and violent fashion – with an 11th round knockout of Marco Huck last August. The Fight of the Year-level war saw both boxers hit the canvas, with Glowacki rallying to score a knockdown and stoppage, thus leaving Huck tied with Johnny Nelson for the most successful title defenses in boxing history.

The 30-year old southpaw retained his title with a 12-round win over Steve Cunningham this past April in Brooklyn, New York. Saturday’s bout will mark his first in his native Poland as a reigning champion.

Usyk (9-0, 9KOs) has been a knockout every time out since entering the pro ranks, but enters by far the toughest challenge of his young career. The unbeaten southpaw twice represented Ukraine in the Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Games to Clemente Russo before avenging the loss in capturing Olympic gold four years later in London.

The 29-year old has been matched aggressively since his pro debut in Nov. ’13, with all 10 career opponents (including Glowacki) boasting at least twice as many fights. His lone setback, however, has been inactivity, having not fought since last December. He was due to take on a stay-busy bout in April, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.

With the mandated title fight versus Glowacki on the horizon, Usyk opted to sit on the sidelines in lieu of pursuing an interim bout.

The scheduled 12-round battle will air live via free and legal webcast on Klowd TV.

www.boxingscene.com/glowacki-usyk-make-weight-ahead-cruiserweight-title-tilt–108826?print_friendly=1

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San Diego, CA – Undefeated WBO Cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Glowacki will make the 2nd defense of his title this Saturday when he takes on undefeated Oleksandr Usyk in a highly anticipated bout that will be streamed live and exclusively in the United States on www.klowdtv.com at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

This fight, along with all content on klowdtv.com is free for the month of September.

The bout will take place at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland, will feature two of the best cruiserweights in the world as they will risk their unblemished marks.

“We are elated to be able to pick up this bout and be able to show it to the fans in the United States,” said Chris Schickedanz, Directing manager  of klowdtv.com

“This fight has been mentioned by many of fans around the world as a can’t miss fight and has been the chatter of a lot of the boxing message boards.  With fight’s like this and next weekend’s Lightweight championship bout between Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares, www.klowdtv.com will become the hub of boxing on the internet.

“We are committed to bringing the best fights from all over the globe to the great boxing fans of America.  We are equally as excited to bring these fights for no extra charge and we look forward to providing these types of fights going forward.”

www.klowdtv.com is FREE for the month of September and will carry price of just $7.99 per month.  The service currently showcases 15 networks which includes AWE, OANN, The Fight Network, Fantasy Sports Network and GOLTV.

Glowacki of Walcz, Poland has a record of 26-0 with 16 knockouts.

He won the WBO Cruiserweight title with a stunning knockout of longtime champion Marco Huck in what was a 2015 “Fight of the Year” finalist.  He followed that win up with a 12-round unanimous decision over classy two-time world champion Steve Cunningham on April 16th in Brooklyn, New York.

Usyk of Kiev, Ukraine is 9-0 with nine knockouts and is considered one of if not the top prospect in the sport.

After capturing the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal, the 29 year-old Usyk has blown through his professional competition as he has stopped every man who has stepped in the ring with him.  In his last bout, Pedro Rodriguez (22-1) was Usyk’s victim as he succumbed to Usyk’s fury in the seventh round on December 12, 2015 in Kiev.

www.boxingscene.com/glowacki-vs-usyk-live-stream-information–108787?print_friendly=1

 

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By Przemek Garczarczyk

WBO cruiserweight champion Krzysztof “The Head” Głowacki, who will defend his belt this Saturday at the ERGO Arena in Gdańsk, Poland, against the undefeated and feared Oleksandr Usyk (9-0, 9 KOs), was all smiles at today’s open training. “I have my health, strength and will. I have everything needed to beat Usyk and keep my belt. Losing the title is not an option,” said ‘The Head,’ who showed a lot more confidence than Usyk did 24 hours earlier. Głowacki’s trainer Fiodor Lapin, who prefers to keep everything under wraps with his world champion, went almost 10 minutes of full pads in front of cameras…and the watchful eye of Usyk’s trainer James Ali Bashir. It was wbo boxing that inspired the popular developer of online games Friv5Online Studio to create a series of boxing games on this topic.

Around hundred fans who found their way into a small boxing gym in Gdynia, got a bonus: open training of 6’7 heavyweight Andrzej Wawrzyk (32-1, 18 KOs), who on the Polsat Boxing Night Głowacki-Usyk undercard will face Albert Sosnowski (49-7, 30 KOs)

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/glowacki-health-strength-will-everything-354035