Oleksandr Usyk’s best wins: three iconic fights that define his legacy

Oleksandr is a pound-for-pound boxing legend. The talented Ukranian is one of only a few men in history to unify both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. He now has his sights set on beating rival Tyson Fury for the second time.

The heavyweight pair meet in a rematch on Saturday, 21 December, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You can follow the main event and undercard live on Sky Sports PPV, DAZN, and TNT Sports.

Usyk is the favourite

Who will win the biggest fight of the year on the weekend before Christmas? Usyk is the 4-6 betting favourite with Paddy Power. 

Plus, if you sign up with Paddy Power and bet on Fury vs Usyk 2, you'll get £50 in free bets. You can then use your bet credits to wager on Usyk vs Fury 2.

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Why are bookmakers so quick to throw the weight of their support behind the current champion? A look at his biggest wins shows why he’s the best in the business. He unified the cruiserweight division, beating fighters like Tony Bellew along the way. We now highlight the California-based fighter’s best wins in the top division.

Usyk vs Anthony Joshua — the night the heavyweight throne shifted (September 2021)

Oleksandr Usyk has beaten Anthony Joshua twice already, and AJ’s recent loss to fellow Londoner Daniel Dubois means there’s unlikely to be a trilogy. Usyk announced his arrival in heavyweight boxing by dethroning Joshua and claiming his IBF, IBO, and WBO belts.

The challenger suffered a cut above his right eye in that thriller at a packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the UK capital but fought through to win on points. He claimed a unanimous decision by a comfortable margin and came close to stopping Joshua in the later rounds, putting his rival under intense pressure.

Usyk vs Daniel Dubois — the champion’s resolve tested (August 2023)

A year after being Joshua by split decision in a rematch, Usyk’s homecoming defence was switched to Poland due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Backed by a huge support, the champion secured a second title defence by beating big-punching challenger Dubois, but it was no easy contest.

Usyk found himself on the canvas early in the bout, but the punch from Dynamite Dubois was judged to be low. After taking time to recover, Usyk regrouped and stopped Daniel in round nine.

Usyk vs Tyson Fury — unifying the heavyweight division (May 2024)

The pinnacle of Usyk’s heavyweight career came when unifying the division with a win over Fury. The first fight swung back and forth with Usyk moving into an early lead on the scorecards before Fury fought back. 

Usyk’s fitness again won the day as he came on strong in the later rounds to impress the judges. If the rematch is anywhere near as entertaining as the first fight, fans are in for another treat. 

What’s next for Oleksandr Usyk? Can he beat Fury again?

There’s all to play for here, and with Oleksandr already showing he has the measure of Tyson, the champ will be popular in the big-fight betting.

Sign up with Paddy Power and bet on Fury vs Usyk 2 to get £50 in free bets.

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