Oleksandr Usyk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk in 2022
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Cat White Rabbit
Rated at	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in
Reach	78 in
Born	(1987-01-17) 17 January 1987 (age 38) Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	24
Wins	24
Wins by KO	15
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Ukraine Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Heavyweight World Championships Gold 2011 Baku Heavyweight Bronze 2009 Milan Heavyweight European Olympic Qualifying Silver 2008 Roseto degli Abruzzi–Pescara Heavyweight European Championships Gold 2008 Liverpool Light-heavyweight Bronze 2006 Plovdiv Middleweight World Cup Silver 2008 Moscow Heavyweight Strandzha Cup Gold 2008 Plovdiv Light-heavyweight

Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk (born 17 January 1987) is a Ukrainian professional boxer. He is one of the most successful boxers of his time. Usyk is the undisputed champion in two different weight classes: cruiserweight and heavyweight. This means he held all the major championship belts in both divisions at the same time.

He is the first boxer in history to become a three-time undisputed champion in the modern "four-belt era." This era began when boxing decided there would be four major championship belts.

As an amateur boxer, Usyk was very successful. He won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. He turned professional in 2013 and quickly became a champion. In 2018, he became the undisputed cruiserweight champion.

In 2021, Usyk moved up to the heavyweight division and defeated Anthony Joshua to win three of the four major titles. In 2024, he beat Tyson Fury to win the final belt, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion. He is the first boxer to hold this title since 2000. In July 2025, he defeated Daniel Dubois to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat only achieved before by the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Early life

Usyk was born in Simferopol, Crimea, which was part of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union at the time. His mother worked in construction, and his father was a soldier. He has two siblings.

When he was young, Usyk loved football. He trained at a special sports school until he was 15. In 2002, he decided to switch to boxing. He later graduated from Lviv State University of Physical Culture.

Amateur career

Usyk in 2012

As an amateur, Usyk competed in many tournaments. He won medals at the European Championships and World Championships. His biggest achievement as an amateur came at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

At the Olympics, Usyk won the gold medal in the heavyweight division. He beat talented boxers from around the world to become the champion. After the Olympics, he decided to become a professional boxer. He finished his amateur career with an amazing record of 335 wins and only 15 losses.

Professional career

Becoming a Champion

Usyk turned professional in 2013. He fought in the cruiserweight division, which is for boxers who weigh up to 200 pounds. He won his first nine fights by knockout, showing his power and skill.

In 2016, in only his tenth professional fight, Usyk challenged Krzysztof Głowacki for the WBO cruiserweight world title. Usyk won the fight by a unanimous decision, meaning all the judges scored him as the winner. He became a world champion and broke the record of boxing legend Evander Holyfield by winning a title in the fewest fights.

The Undisputed Cruiserweight King

Usyk's fight with Andrey Knyazev was watched by millions in Ukraine.

In 2017, Usyk entered a special tournament called the World Boxing Super Series. The tournament brought together the best cruiserweights in the world to find one single champion. The winner would hold all four major belts: the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles.

Usyk fought his way to the final. He defeated Marco Huck and then won a tough fight against Mairis Briedis to unify two of the belts. In the final, held in Moscow, Russia, in July 2018, Usyk faced Murat Gassiev.

Usyk put on a masterful performance. He used his amazing footwork and quick punches to control the entire fight. He won by a unanimous decision, with the judges' scores showing how one-sided the fight was. With this victory, Usyk became the first-ever undisputed cruiserweight champion in the four-belt era.

After winning the tournament, he defended his titles against British boxer Tony Bellew in England. Usyk won by knockout in the eighth round. After this fight, he decided to move up to the heavyweight division.

Conquering the Heavyweight Division

Moving up to the heavyweight division was a big challenge. Heavyweight boxers are bigger and stronger. Usyk's first two fights at this new weight were against Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora, and he won both. These fights prepared him for a shot at the heavyweight title.

In September 2021, Usyk challenged the unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, in London. Many people thought Joshua was too big and powerful for Usyk. But Usyk surprised the world with his incredible boxing skills. He outboxed Joshua over 12 rounds and won a unanimous decision, becoming the new WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight champion.

A rematch was held in August 2022 in Saudi Arabia. Joshua fought better, but Usyk was still too good. He won again, this time by a split decision, and kept his titles.

Becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

After defending his titles against Daniel Dubois in 2023, Usyk's next goal was to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. To do this, he had to fight Tyson Fury, who held the last remaining belt, the WBC title.

The historic fight took place in May 2024 in Saudi Arabia. It was a very close and exciting fight. In the ninth round, Usyk badly hurt Fury and scored a knockdown. After 12 rounds, the judges awarded the victory to Usyk by a split decision. He became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years.

A rematch with Fury happened in December 2024. Usyk won again, this time by a clear unanimous decision, proving he was the best heavyweight in the world.

On July 19, 2025, Usyk faced Daniel Dubois in a rematch at a packed Wembley Stadium in London. Usyk delivered a stunning performance, knocking out Dubois in the fifth round. This victory made him a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, a rare achievement in boxing history.

Personal life

Usyk is married to his wife, Yekaterina, and they have four children. The family lives in Kyiv, Ukraine. He is a devoted Orthodox Christian and often speaks about his faith.

Usyk is very proud of his Ukrainian heritage.

Outside of boxing, Usyk signed a professional contract with the Ukrainian football team FC Polissya Zhytomyr in 2023. He says he might play football after he retires from boxing.

Professional boxing record

See also

In Spanish: Oleksandr Usyk para niños

• List of WBA world champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of IBO world champions
• List of Olympic medalists in boxing