Oleksandr Usyk is the reigning unified heavyweight boxing champion from Ukraine, widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters of his era and still active at the top level in late 2025. He has become a three-time undisputed champion across cruiserweight and heavyweight, an achievement unmatched by any other male boxer in the four-belt era.
Who is Oleksandr Usyk?
Oleksandr Usyk was born on January 17, 1987, in Simferopol, Crimea, then part of Soviet Ukraine, and later moved with his family to mainland Ukraine during his childhood. A southpaw standing about 6′3″ (191 cm) with a 78″ (198 cm) reach, he combines cruiserweight-style speed and footwork with heavyweight size, which underpins his dominance in the division.
Before turning professional in 2013, Usyk built an elite amateur résumé that included an Olympic gold medal, world and European championship titles, and an approximate record of 335 wins with only 15 losses. This deep amateur background shaped his technical style: constant angles, feints, and high ring IQ rather than relying on one-punch knockout power.
Rise at cruiserweight
Usyk began his professional career in the cruiserweight division, quickly establishing himself as a top prospect with nine straight knockout wins. In 2016, he captured the WBO cruiserweight title by outboxing Krzysztof Głowacki over 12 rounds, signalling the arrival of a new force at 200 pounds.
Over the next two years, he unified the division, collecting the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts by defeating high-level opponents such as Mairis Briedis and Murat Gassiev. By beating Tony Bellew in 2018, Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight champion, completing one of the most impressive campaigns in the division’s history.
Move to heavyweight
After clearing out cruiserweight, Usyk stepped up to heavyweight in 2019, debuting in the division against Chazz Witherspoon. Many questioned whether his smaller frame compared with giants like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would hold up against true heavyweight power.
Usyk answered those doubts with skill rather than bulk, relying on movement, punch output, and timing to neutralise larger opponents. His heavyweight ascent set up a defining clash with unified champion Anthony Joshua, who held the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles at the time.
Beating Anthony Joshua
In September 2021, Usyk challenged Joshua in London and produced a masterclass of southpaw boxing to win a clear decision and take the unified heavyweight titles. He consistently outmanoeuvred Joshua, landing sharp left hands and controlling the pace while avoiding sustained punishment.
The rematch in 2022 saw Joshua make tactical adjustments, but Usyk again prevailed on points, underlining that the first win was no fluke. These back-to-back victories over an established champion cemented his status as the leading heavyweight of the new era.
Fury vs Usyk for the undisputed
In May 2024, Usyk faced WBC champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in a historic bout to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. In a dramatic fight where Usyk hurt Fury badly in the later rounds, he won by split decision, unifying the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC titles and becoming the first undisputed heavyweight since Lennox Lewis in 1999–2000.
Later that year, in December 2024, Usyk and Fury met again in a rematch, with Usyk winning by unanimous decision and handing Fury a second consecutive defeat. The two fights added up to 24 gruelling rounds and elevated Usyk into discussions alongside the all-time great heavyweights.
Second reign and Dubois fight
After becoming undisputed, Usyk relinquished the IBF belt rather than face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois immediately, focusing instead on the lucrative Fury rematch. This decision briefly ended his undisputed status as Dubois went on to capture that IBF title.
On July 19, 2025, Usyk faced Dubois at Wembley Stadium and stopped him with a fifth-round knockout to regain the IBF belt and once again become undisputed heavyweight champion. This victory made him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to be a three-time undisputed champion (including cruiserweight) and only the second man after Muhammad Ali to be undisputed heavyweight champion twice.
Recent decisions and titles
In late 2025, Usyk vacated his WBO heavyweight title, allowing Britain’s Fabio Wardley to be promoted to full champion and opening opportunities for younger contenders in the division. Team members explained that the move reflected Usyk’s desire to give fresh fighters a chance at world-level success rather than being tied up with multiple mandatory defences.
Even after relinquishing the WBO belt, he remains a unified champion and the lineal figurehead of the division, with his WBA and WBC titles and the IBF belt reclaimed from Dubois. Rankings from major boxing outlets continue to place him at or near the top of pound-for-pound lists, underlining his ongoing dominance despite being 38 years old.
Fighting style and strengths
Usyk is known for exceptional footwork, constant lateral movement, and the ability to change tempo and angles, which makes him a nightmare for slower heavyweights. His “pawing” right jab sets up straight left hands, body shots, and combinations while disrupting an opponent’s rhythm.
Defensively, he relies on head movement, small shifts in distance, and high guard adjustments rather than simply holding or clinching. His stamina and mental resilience, honed over hundreds of amateur and professional rounds, allow him to finish fights strongly, often sweeping the later rounds on scorecards.
Record, achievements and legacy
As of late 2025, Usyk’s professional record stands at 24 wins with no defeats, including 15 victories by knockout. He has become an undisputed champion in two weight classes and the first male boxer to hold all four major belts at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
His achievements include Olympic gold, undisputed cruiserweight supremacy, and two separate reigns as undisputed heavyweight champion, plus high-profile wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. Many analysts now place him among the greatest technical heavyweights in history and a modern benchmark for pound-for-pound excellence.
What comes next for Usyk
At 38, Usyk has already hinted at giving younger contenders more chances by vacating the WBO belt, but his team has confirmed that he plans to fight again in 2026. An IBF final eliminator has been ordered, meaning his next mandatory challenger is likely to emerge from that bout, while talk around a future trilogy meeting with Tyson Fury or other rising heavyweights continues to swirl.
Coaches and promoters describe him as still highly motivated, treating training and competition as a duty to his supporters and to Ukraine during a difficult period for his home country. Given his current form and historical accomplishments, any future fight involving Usyk will carry major implications for the heavyweight landscape and his already secure legacy.