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On 19th July 2025, Oleksandr Usyk once again reigned supreme on British soil by defeating Daniel Dubois.

At the same Wembley Stadium where he first proved himself worthy of standing among boxing’s elite heavyweights, the Ukrainian reaffirmed his dominance by becoming the second two-time heavyweight champion, since the legendary Muhammad Ali.

That familiar left hook to the chin, the one that drops opponents before the referee’s count reaches three, caught Daniel Dubois in the fifth round. It’s a signature move that has come to define Usyk’s style, one shaped by years of discipline and grit. 

Through eight bouts against top British heavyweights, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and Tyson Fury, he has remained unbeaten, dismantling the long-held idea of what truly defines a heavyweight champion.

Nicknamed “The Cat,” his fighting style lives up to the name. Swift, elusive, and unpredictable, always ready to strike and hurt his opponent when they least expect it.

Years ago, he arrived in England as an unproven amateur, winning Olympic gold and leaving behind a promise of greatness. 

Today, he returns to those same grounds, not as a hopeful fighter, but as a global attraction backed by broadcasters and promoters who know that wherever Usyk goes, the spotlight follows and the profits pour in. 

Some call it destiny that the land where he once sought validation now roars his name the loudest.

From an unknown fighter who could not afford to pursue his earliest dream of football due to poverty to being the British fans’ favourite, this is the story of how Oleksandr Usyk conquered British boxing.

Dominating the London 2012 Olympic Games

Oleksandr Usyk’s first love was football, a passion that lit up his childhood even in the shadow of poverty. 

But dreams, like fighters, often have to adapt. Guided by his father’s advice, the young Ukrainian traded the football pitch for the boxing ring at just 15. This decision would change the course of his life.

As an amateur, Usyk’s talent was unmistakable. Win after win earned him a coveted spot on Ukraine’s team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a moment of immense pride for a boy who once couldn’t afford boots, now wearing his nation’s colours on the world stage.

In Beijing, he fought bravely but fell short, losing 4–7 in the quarter-final to Italy’s Clemente Russo. For many, it would have been a respectable finish. For Usyk, it was unfinished business.

He returned hungrier, sharper, and by London 2012, the transformation was complete. With a team of “Otamany” [Otamans] that featured future champions like Vasyl Lomachenko and Denys Berinchyk, Usyk was ready for gold.

He swept through the rounds, defeating Bulgaria’s Tervel Pulev to set up a rematch against Russo. This time, the result was different. Usyk outclassed the Italian 6–3 to capture Olympic gold, proof that setbacks don’t stop champions; they shape them.

Going Pro in 2013

Despite an illustrious amateur career glittering with medals, Oleksandr Usyk felt there was more to conquer, more to prove. The only logical step was to go pro.

By late 2013, at 26, the Olympic champion decided it was time to test himself beyond the comfort of headgear and point systems.

He signed with K2 Promotions, the company run by Ukraine’s own Klitschko brothers, and stepped into the professional ranks as a cruiserweight. 

It was both an ending and a beginning: the close of a remarkable amateur journey that saw him amass 335 victories against just 15 defeats, and the start of a new pursuit, the quest to master the sport professionally.

On November 9, 2013, Oleksandr Usyk stepped into the professional ring for the first time against Mexico’s Felipe Romero. Calm, composed, and clinical, he announced his arrival with a decisive victory. One win became two, then three, and four in a row.

By mid-2014, Usyk’s momentum carried him into contention for the Intercontinental Cruiserweight title. 

Against South Africa’s Daniel Bruwer, he showcased what was slowly becoming his trademark: precision and patience, forcing a technical knockout in the seventh round. 

Two months later, he defended the belt with equal vigour, dispatching Danie Venter in the ninth round. 

Oleksandr Usyk, in June 2016, added a world title to his growing legacy in Gdańsk, Poland, where he outclassed Krzysztof Głowacki over 12 commanding rounds to claim the WBO Cruiserweight Championship.

For the first time in his professional career, Usyk went the distance, but the outcome was never in doubt. Usyk’s sharp jab and fluid movement kept Głowacki chasing shadows; he earned a unanimous decision from the judges.

At 29, Usyk had arrived as not just a champion, but the new force of the division, one whose skill and discipline would soon redefine the cruiserweight class.

Tony Bellew Falls in Manchester

After sweeping through the cruiserweight division and defeating Murat Gassiev to claim the Muhammad Ali Trophy, Oleksandr Usyk stood at the top of the division, but he was not done.

When talk turned to Tony Bellew, the charismatic British boxer whose stellar career was coming to an end, who had teased a final dance before retirement, Usyk didn’t hesitate. 

He hinted that he was willing to move up in weight if Bellew wouldn’t come down, joking that he’d simply “add more spaghetti to his dinners.” 

Beneath the humor, though, was a clear message: the undisputed champion was ready for anyone, anywhere.

By late 2018, the fight was agreed upon. Usyk signed a new promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, joining forces with K2 Promotions, and a date was set, November 10 at Manchester Arena. 

It was meant to be Tony Bellew’s last dance, a farewell to an illustrious career, and the ultimate test for Usyk’s dominance.

When the bell rang that night, Bellew began brightly, his timing sharp and confidence high, which was the hallmark of an experienced fighter. He led the early rounds, leaving Usyk to play catch-up.

Then, as the fight wore on, the tide began to turn. Usyk’s movement tightened, his jab found its mark straight in the chin like he loved it, and Bellew began to struggle. He was clearly no match for the more energetic Usyk.

In the eighth round, a sudden, crushing left-hand hook snapped Bellew’s head back and sent him tumbling toward the ropes. The referee stepped in, and the fight was over. Usyk had finished it in the way only he could: patiently, methodically, and then all at once.

As the Manchester crowd rose in respect, Bellew, bloodied but proud, embraced his conqueror and bowed out of the sport. Usyk stood in the center of the ring, every cruiserweight belt draped over his shoulders like a champion in full command of his craft. 

The division had found its master, but the master was not content, as he had hinted in his post-match interview that there was a need for more goals to be set.

One of the interviews gave us the famous “I am feel, I am very feel.” Ironically, this bizarre and misunderstood broken-English response exploded into meme culture and turned Usyk into a star in the English-speaking world.

Crushing Derek Chisora 

Months after defeating Tony Bellew, Oleksandr Usyk announced his move to the heavyweight division. 

Having dominated the cruiserweight division, it seemed a natural next step, but not everyone bought the hype. The Ukrainian’s lean frame stood in contrast to the stocky, power-punching figures who usually define heavyweight boxing.

Usyk made his debut against American Chazz Witherspoon, the cousin of former world champion Tim Witherspoon. 

Before a crowd of around 9,000 fans, Usyk’s superior movement and timing wore Witherspoon down by the fifth round and forced a stoppage in the seventh round, an early sign that his style could hold up against bigger men.

A scheduled fight against Derek Chisora for May 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving fans waiting to see how Usyk would handle a more physical test. That moment arrived on October 31, 2020, when he faced Derek Chisora at London’s SSE Arena.

Chisora came out with his usual beserker style, using his size and aggression to press the smaller man onto the ropes. As the rounds wore on, Usyk’s rhythm began to surface, his footwork crisp and his jab steady. 

Chisora’s pace had slowed, while Usyk continued to pick his shots with accuracy and confidence; he was firmly in control.

When the final bell rang, the judges scored it unanimously for Usyk 117–112, 115–113, 115–113. It was a performance that silenced doubts and confirmed he could compete with the heavyweight.

In his post-fight message, Usyk was calm but clear. The next target was Anthony Joshua and the heavyweight crown itself. 

But wasn’t Usyk getting too ambitious and overstretching his luck? Chisora and Bellew were nowhere near Joshua’s level—Usyk was going against the golden child of British boxing.

Smacking Anthony Joshua at Wembley

Anthony Joshua’s earlier plan had been to fight Tyson Fury. At the time, Joshua had just regained his unified heavyweight titles after a unanimous win over Andy Ruiz in their rematch, bouncing back from a shocking defeat.

When the long-awaited Fury fight collapsed in 2021, the WBO ordered Joshua to face Oleksandr Usyk instead. 

Many called it a mismatch, pundits were unsure about Usyk, and betting odds swung heavily in Joshua’s favor. The idea that Usyk could beat him seemed ridiculous, despite his brilliance in the cruiserweight division and his early triumph in the heavyweight division.

But on September 25, 2021, before 66,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Usyk silenced every doubt. 

Using his footwork and agility, he drew Joshua out, jabbing with his right and landing sharp left hooks, classic Usyk. He outboxed Joshua completely, causing the latter to stagger, landing 148 punches in the process and winning by unanimous decision to remain undefeated at heavyweight.

Fans were in disbelief. The smaller Ukrainian had just taken Joshua’s belts and rewritten expectations. Surely, there had to be an explanation, and there was one: a rematch.

Sending Anthony Joshua into a Meltdown

Days after Oleksandr Usyk’s victory, his promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, confirmed what everyone expected: the rematch clause in the fighting contract had been triggered. For Joshua, it was about redemption; for Usyk, the chance to prove the first win was no fluke.

But even before the rematch came, Usyk’s world was rocked by massive geopolitical events unfolding in his home country.

On the 24th of February, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine for the second time in a decade. 

As with everything in life, sports take a back seat when real life confronts you with an unprecedented disaster. With bombs flying around and kids getting bombed in their homes, the last thing on anyone’s mind was a boxing fight. 

True to his word, Usyk went back home and took up arms to defend his country. 

With the permission of the Ukrainian government, Usyk was allowed to defend the belt outside the country since he was a cultural ambassador.

So the rematch with Anthony Joshua was back on the cards.

When they met again, Joshua fought better, heavier shots, better defense, but Usyk’s skill and movement were still a problem. After twelve rounds, the split decision went to the Ukrainian. Joshua had lost his belts again, and this time, something in him broke.

Unable to process the defeat, he threw Usyk’s belts out of the ring and stormed off before returning to deliver an emotional speech. He spoke of his struggles, of respect for Usyk, the meltdown said more than words could.

For the first time, the composed champion looked lost. The loss didn’t just cost him titles; it confirmed what critics had begun to whisper: that Anthony Joshua was no longer the fighter he once was.

Usyk, on the other hand, had firmly established himself as the man to beat, a fighter who had silenced every doubt. 

And his resolute calmness in the face of Joshua’s boisterous outburst further cemented his place as a fan favorite. For the first time, the British crowd embraced Usyk fully and turned on one of their own.

Yet, even in victory, it was clear he still had more to offer.

Deconstructing  Daniel Dubois

In April 2023, the WBA ordered Oleksandr Usyk to unify his heavyweight titles against regular champion Daniel Dubois. 

The fight took place on August 26 at Stadion Wrocław in Poland, where Usyk stepped into the ring as the heavy favourite to face a dangerous, young challenger.

Midway through the bout, controversy struck. 

In the fifth round, Dubois landed a body shot that sent Usyk crashing to the canvas, only for the referee to rule it a low blow; the call split opinion. Many ringside observers believed it was legal and could have ended the fight right there in favor of Dubois.

Usyk regrouped, used his superior movement to take control, and stopped Dubois in the ninth round. It was a brutal fight, but Uysk prevailed once again.

After the fight, Dubois claimed he had been “cheated out of victory,” and plenty of fans agreed. Still, talks of a rematch lingered, and when the chance came, Usyk, true to form, embraced it.

The “low blow that never was” became the story of the rematch. But for now, Usyk was about to face an unstoppable force in Tyson Fury.

Facing the Wrath of Fury

Even those who don’t follow boxing closely know the name Tyson Fury, famously called the Gypsy King. His reputation precedes him, a towering, fearless fighter known for dismantling opponents with punishing knockouts that often left them barely recognizable.

So, when the announcement came that Fury would face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship, the world took notice. For casual fans, the sentiment was simple: Usyk should just aim to leave the ring in one piece. 

After all, Fury had humbled some of the sport’s fiercest warriors, most notably Deontay Wilder, who needed months to recover after their brutal trilogy. This was shaping to be the showdown of a generation, one that justified every ounce of hype, and the staggering $150 million prize shared between the two fighters only added to its grandeur.

On May 18, 2024, Oleksandr Usyk stepped into the ring to face the greatest boxer of his generation, Tyson Fury. 

The fight began with both men trading moments of control. Usyk pressed forward with quick moves and power shots, while Fury countered smartly with his signature jab and light footwork. 

By the middle rounds, Fury seemed to seize momentum, landing sharp uppercuts that visibly troubled the Ukrainian. Yet, Usyk’s resilience stood the test.

From Round 8 onward, the tempo shifted dramatically. Usyk’s relentless pressure culminated in a breathtaking ninth round, where he rocked Fury with a flurry of punches and sent the champion staggering into the ropes, a knockdown that proved decisive. 

Though Fury recovered and fought bravely to the end, the judges sided with Usyk, crowning him the undisputed king of the heavyweight division.

As the ref raised Usyk’s hand to make the decision official, Usyk broke down in tears. It was simply unbelievable, years of hardwork and training paying off. Fury, however, was unconvinced, insisting he won the majority of the rounds. 

Still, the result stood. Some skeptics echoed Fury’s sentiment, claiming Usyk had escaped narrowly, but the promise of a rematch clause reignited anticipation. For many, it wasn’t over yet; they believed the Gypsy King would return to settle the score once and for all.

Closing Out the Fury Chapter in Style

As negotiations lingered on, Fury decided to take a detour to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou. This gimmick fight, absurdly dubbed the “Battle of the Baddest,” was meant to be a quick cash grab for Fury before he fought Usyk.

To everyone’s utter dismay—including Usyk, who was ringside for the event—Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury. This was an MMA fighter knocking down the greatest British heavyweight of the modern era. 

Although Tyson Fury finally edged a razor-close split decision against Francis Ngannou, the entire boxing world knew he had to move mountains to dislodge Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch.

The long-awaited rematch took place on December 21, 2024, and once again, Oleksandr Usyk proved his dominance. 

Unlike their first meeting, neither fighter appeared badly hurt, though the bout went back and forth. Usyk’s sharp counters kept Fury on the back foot, while Fury responded with heavy shots to the head and body.

When the final bell rang, it was clear. Usyk had once again outclassed the Gypsy King. He has dismantled the old guard and, in an ironic twist of fate, become a favourite among British boxing fans, even more adored than some of their own homegrown stars. 

But he had unfinished business. The media, in an attempt to salvage the reputation of British boxing, started drumming up the Daniel Dubois controversy.

Oleksandr Usyk and the Ukrainians had had enough of all the talk and decided to turn that asterisk into a complete full stop.

The Death Knell on British Boxing

Under the rain in July 2025, a crowd of nearly 90,000 fans turned out to witness the highly anticipated rematch between Usyk and Dubois. This time, Usyk delivered a masterclass performance, stopping Dubois in the fifth round of a dominant display. 

From the opening bell, Usyk controlled the tempo with his sharp jab, setting the tone early. Dubois found some success in the second round, edging slightly ahead with cleaner exchanges. 

However, in the third, a deadly left hook from Usyk visibly shook Dubois, and the Ukrainian’s superb movement denied him any chance to mount a comeback. 

By the fifth round, Usyk’s precision proved decisive, first flooring Dubois with a right hook to the temple, then moments later sealing the contest with a clean left hook that undoubtedly ended the fight.

The victory not only reaffirmed his superiority but also restored his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time in his career.

What’s Next for Oleksandr Usyk?

Having conquered everything there is to win, Usyk will no longer fight for fame or belts but for the love of the sport and to savour the final years of a remarkable career—the Ukrainian star, having made an earlier statement of his desire to retire at 41.

His next challenge is set to be the winner of Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley, a mandatory WBO title defence.

Rumours had swirled about a possible showdown with rising British star and Commonwealth champion Moses Itauma, but Usyk has since dismissed those claims.

In just six years, one man has broken Britain’s long-held dominance in the heavyweight scene. Oleksandr Usyk won the respect of British boxing fans and made them feel, very feel.  

As the curtain slowly closes on his extraordinary career, one truth stands tall: we may never see another fighter like Oleksandr Usyk again.