The culmination of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament, saw Ukrainian southpaw boxer Oleksandr Usyk retain his WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles, and claim the WBC and IBF titles, by easily outpointing Russian puncher Murat Gassiev.
Becoming the first undisputed cruiserweight title holder since Evender Holyfield and the first, four belt cruiserweight champion in history.
However, following his historic victory. All the talk was about a mega fight with Tony Bellew. Not about his monumental achievement. This was because after the coronation of Usyk being presented the trophy. He wasted no time by calling out Tony Bellew.
It almost had the air of Usyk not being fully satisfied or fulfilled. Despite making history. Though the fight wasn’t a barnstormer.
It was a highly calculated and masterful display by the Ukrainian, to outpoint the devastating puncher Gassiev, who was unbeaten.
With 19 knockouts of his 26 wins and had stopped eight of his last 10 opponents. Usyk certainly did it the hard way by travelling to Russia to make history.
This was his seventh fight outside his native Ukraine and sixth consecutive fight overseas. However, it was his first in Russia. His last seven fights had taken him to six different countries, making him somewhat of a road warrior, picking up valuable experience in just 15 pro fights.
Gassiev on the other had, was entering his 28th pro fight where most were fought in his native Russia or America. However, although Usyk was ranked No1 and Gassiev ranked no2.
When you put all permutations together, it was considered more or less a 50/50 fight and a classic boxer v puncher match up.
The fight started really cagey with no fighter really asserting themselves or making any dent in the other.
The first was pretty even, but Gassiev may have just nicked it in the second. Usyk used his supreme movement early in the fight and this forced Gassiev to throw some heavy body shots to try to slow him down.
The fight remained cagey early, where it seemed the magnitude of the occasion was playing on the minds of both.
The Super Six series has been a huge success in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions.
There is a new tournament created for the bantamweight division and the winner of the cruiserweight tournament would lift the inaugural Mohamed Ali trophy.
The fight picked up at the end of the fourth, when Gassiev caught Usyk with a lovely right, which Ukrainian had to take flush. But the Usyk got back into his rhythm in the fifth sticking his jab out, punching and moving.
This format continued throughout the middle rounds as, although Gassiev was putting in effort, especially with some hard body shots. Usyk’s movement and punch output allowed him to stay a few steps ahead of he Russian.
Gassiev seemed hell-bent on catching Usyk with that one solitary knockout blow, but had trouble with Usyk’s movement.
The few times he did catch Usyk. The Ukrainian took the blow and just continued back to his volume of punches to back up Gassiev.
This remained throughout the fight as Usyk asserted his boxing ability. He showed exactly why he was ranked no1 with his superior boxing abilities that saw him win the world amateur championships in 2011. And an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
In contrast, Gassiev, who was the youngest man in the tournament. Had only 25 amateur fights.
Although Gassiev tried until the very end. I was really impressed by Usyk, who showed his full repertoire. He boxed beautifully and whenever Gassiev had a glimmer of success, Usyk would come back with a flurry to assert his supremacy.
You could see why, the widely renowned p4p no1 Lomachenko is known as “the mini Usyk.” I kid you not. Look it up.
In the end. Usyk was awarded a very wide majority points victory on all three judges scorecards. After the fight.
Usyk called out Bellew and showed how serious he was by saying if Bellew does not move back down to cruiserweight, he is prepared to go to heavyweight to fight him.
Usyk could really be on to something here. Considering the ease of which he has taken all four cruiserweight belts.
Many may question his achievements, as great as it is, by questioning the calibre of opponents. Every great fighter needs a great rival. A great dance partner to make history with and cement their legacy.
We all know Bellew can certainly sell a fight. He now has a bit of pull, after retiring David Haye, albeit a well past it David Haye.
Coming from dominating the cruiserweight division. The only natural direction is heavyweight. Usyk knows it’s a huge risk. But like the last undisputed cruiserweight champion. Holyfield showed it’s not impossible.
Holyfield went on the be the man at heavyweight at one stage against all odds. It followed an 8 year pursuit of Mike Tyson which culminated in those history two bouts he had which is firmly etched in heavyweight boxing history. Along with his fights with Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis.
I’m sure this is the pursuit and direction Usyk would love to have. He has already made history at cruiserweight.
Now, who better to introduce him to the big time, to big pay-day occasions.
Crazy press conferences, rivalries, pressure, trash talking, and all action fights to push him to his limit than Tony Bellew. If that aint mouth-watering enough.
If he gets past Bellow. How about a career defining fight with no other than Andre Ward?
