Who Next For Oleksandr Usyk at Heavyweight?

Who Next For Oleksandr Usyk at Heavyweight?

By Sina Latif

Former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KO) made his much anticipated heavyweight debut in Chicago on Saturday night.

The Ukrainian produced a dominant display and made Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 27 KO) quit on his stool after the seventh round. The American looked like a beaten man at the end of the round and after the way he slumped on his stool, it was clearly over.

In the post fight press conference, when Usyk was asked who he would like to fight next at heavyweight, he replied via translation through manager Egis Klimas:

“It’s not a question to me, that question is to Eddie. If it was up to me, I probably would pick up the winner of Joshua vs Ruiz.”

When asked who his preferred opponent would be out of the pair, without hesitation, Usyk replied: “I think it’s Joshua.”

Usyk is the WBO’s mandatory challenger for the winner of that fight.

The 32-year-old wants to take the approach of David Haye, who moved up to heavyweight, made his debut and then beat Nikolai Valuev in his very next fight to become heavyweight champion, as opposed to Evander Holyfield, who moved up to heavyweight and had six fights before beating James ‘Buster’ Douglas to become champion.

Usyk wants to repeat the feats of Holyfield and Haye in becoming a two-weight champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight, and which of his predecessors’ approach he should follow is the main question.

Witherspoon was a good showcase debut fight for Usyk in the blue-ribbon division. Usyk out-boxed Witherspoon at will and seemed to dis-engage at moments in the fight when he had the opportunity to force a stoppage in order to get some rounds in the bag after 11 months of inactivity.

However, Witherspoon took the fight as a last minute replacement on five days’ notice. The American has been inactive in recent years and was better known as the second cousin of former two-time world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon as opposed to recognition of his own career achievements.

Before Usyk steps inside the ring with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr, Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian should seek a real heavyweight test.

The kind of test which will answer the questions of all regarding Usyk’s punch resistance at heavyweight and his ability to carry his power over to the big boys’ league.

Perhaps Usyk can become champion with his elusiveness and avoiding clean shots by the bigger men. Nobody can deny Usyk’s capability to do so with certainty.

For Usyk to become a world heavyweight champion by executing what is essentially the art of boxing, hitting and not getting hit, would make him a special champion.

If Hearns’ statement and Usyk’s wishes become true to fight for the world heavyweight title next, then the Ukrainian’s shot could in fact be for the vacant WBO belt following the Ruiz vs Joshua rematch.

Following the rematch, the winner will be faced with two mandatories, Kubrat Pulev for the IBF and Usyk for the WBO. One belt will most likely have to be vacated. This would mean that Usyk may potentially be fighting the loser of that fight, or former titlist Joseph Parker, who is currently ranked No.4 in the WBO rankings, for the WBO belt.

Parker would provide Usyk with a legit fight for the WBO championship. It would be an interesting watch. For Usyk as a 6’3, 215 pounds fighter, physically he has the size and is certainly skilled enough to give Parker myriad problems. Furthermore, as both men are with Matchroom, it would not be a hard fight to make. One would believe that politics would not be a barrier to this fight.

If a title fight against Joshua, Ruiz or someone else was not to happen, then Usyk would certainly be looking to fight a more credible heavyweight than Witherspoon, and Carlos Takam would be a great opponent.

Takam was initially scheduled to fight Usyk on the Ukrainian’s heavyweight debut  on May 25 before the Ukrainian suffered a torn bicep and the fight was cancelled.

Takam would have been a brilliant first fight for Usyk at heavyweight and would still be a great next fight for the Ukrainian. Takam is a durable, tough heavyweight who is always game and would be a viable opponent for everybody to truly gauge Usyk’s capabilities as a heavyweight.

We would be able to witness the manner in which Usyk could potentially dispatch a strong heavyweight. Whether Usyk can hurt and stop a durable heavyweight or would opt for the option of out-boxing his opponent with his wonderful footwork and movement would be interesting to see. However, as Takam has recently signed with Star Boxing and then linked up with Top Rank, politics may prevent this fight from happening.

Matchroom have plenty of fighters who provide a decent test for Usyk. There is the aforementioned Parker, who would be a lucrative opponent with or without a belt, the Dereck Chisora vs David Price winner, Alexander Povetkin and Michael Hunter, the man who has a sole loss as a pro to Usyk at cruiserweight in 2017 prior to moving up to heavyweight.

All in all, signing with Matchroom was a great move for Usyk. The Ukrainian pound-for-pound king has plenty of credible options, whether for the title or not. It is yet to be seen whether Usyk’s next fight will be for a title, but as long as he doesn’t lose, he will almost certainly be fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world in 2020.

As the first man in history to simultaneously hold all four belts at cruiserweight and win the Muhammad Ali trophy in the process of beating all the best in his division, he is already a special fighter.

If he can subsequently become a heavyweight champion and possibly even join Holyfield as the only other man to become undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, this would make him an all-time great. Perhaps, ‘the land of the giants’ might be too much for him, in this modern era of heavyweights who are now so physically big and powerful.

Nevertheless, seeing how Usyk’s journey will unravel has made an already exciting heavyweight division so much more intriguing.