Oleksandr The Great: The Rise Of Ukraine's Boxing Champion Usyk
- By Amos Chapple
Oleksandr Usyk is set to earn a reported $132M in his bout with British fighter Daniel Dubois, one of the largest purses in boxing history. Photos from Usyk's childhood and career chart his rise from an impoverished upbringing in Ukraine to his legendary status today.
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Heavyweight boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk meets Ukrainian war veterans in London on July 17.
Usyk will face British boxer Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight rematch on July 19 that will net the Ukrainian a reported $132.8M, one of the largest payouts in boxing history. Usyk’s dominance as a heavyweight against much larger opponents has become a powerful symbol for Ukrainians amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Usyk will face British boxer Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight rematch on July 19 that will net the Ukrainian a reported $132.8M, one of the largest payouts in boxing history. Usyk’s dominance as a heavyweight against much larger opponents has become a powerful symbol for Ukrainians amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
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A neighborhood in Simferopol, Soviet Ukraine in 1987.
Usyk was born in Simferopol, Crimea in Soviet Ukraine in 1987. Usyk enjoyed a carefree early childhood but in 1992 the family relocated to northern Ukraine to weather the economic storm that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. “To put it bluntly, it was tough,” Usyk recalled of the period.
Usyk was born in Simferopol, Crimea in Soviet Ukraine in 1987. Usyk enjoyed a carefree early childhood but in 1992 the family relocated to northern Ukraine to weather the economic storm that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. “To put it bluntly, it was tough,” Usyk recalled of the period.
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Usyk with his mother in the 1990s.
With the family barely scraping by in the 1990s, the young Usyk caught pneumonia and spent months in and out of hospitals. Doctors warned his parents the boy may not survive. Sport was recommended as a way to improve Usyk’s immunity after the health scare and the boy took up football.
With the family barely scraping by in the 1990s, the young Usyk caught pneumonia and spent months in and out of hospitals. Doctors warned his parents the boy may not survive. Sport was recommended as a way to improve Usyk’s immunity after the health scare and the boy took up football.
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Usyk as a baby with his father and older sister.
Poverty ended Usyk’s early dream of becoming a professional footballer. His father told him the family could no longer afford to pay for training sessions or uniforms. Instead, the elder Usyk suggested boxing.
Poverty ended Usyk’s early dream of becoming a professional footballer. His father told him the family could no longer afford to pay for training sessions or uniforms. Instead, the elder Usyk suggested boxing.
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Usyk with some of his early boxing medals.
The sportsman says when he was a child he promised his mother he would one day buy a large house where the family could live together. “With these hands, I will do everything in my power to make sure you no longer have to work, my dear mother,” he told her.
The sportsman says when he was a child he promised his mother he would one day buy a large house where the family could live together. “With these hands, I will do everything in my power to make sure you no longer have to work, my dear mother,” he told her.
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Usyk celebrates winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
After hundreds of amateur bouts, Usyk was selected for Ukraine’s team for the 2008 Olympics but was beaten by Italian heavyweight Clemente Russo. Four years later he faced the Italian once more in the heavyweight division and won gold. After the victory, Usyk’s father told his athlete son he loved him by phone – a moment the boxer still holds onto. The elder Usyk died just two days after learning of his son’s Olympic victory.
After hundreds of amateur bouts, Usyk was selected for Ukraine’s team for the 2008 Olympics but was beaten by Italian heavyweight Clemente Russo. Four years later he faced the Italian once more in the heavyweight division and won gold. After the victory, Usyk’s father told his athlete son he loved him by phone – a moment the boxer still holds onto. The elder Usyk died just two days after learning of his son’s Olympic victory.
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Oleksandr Usyk celebrates becoming the cruiserweight world champion in November 2018.
Usyk turned professional in 2013, meaning he could fight for purses. He soon cleaned out the cruiserweight (90.7 kilogram) divisions. A former opponent described the difficulty of fighting the Ukrainian, “he moves a lot, and he’s very fit.” The stamina of the Ukrainian allowed him to steadily turn up the pace through later rounds of a fight as his opponents began to wilt.
Usyk turned professional in 2013, meaning he could fight for purses. He soon cleaned out the cruiserweight (90.7 kilogram) divisions. A former opponent described the difficulty of fighting the Ukrainian, “he moves a lot, and he’s very fit.” The stamina of the Ukrainian allowed him to steadily turn up the pace through later rounds of a fight as his opponents began to wilt.
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Usyk after a heavyweight fight with British Boxer Anthony Joshua in September 2021.
In 2019 Usyk began fighting in the heavyweight division, a category far above his natural weight. He swiftly won over international fans with interviews that often bounced from inspiring to playful. When a reporter asked him what sets him apart from other fighters, he pointed to his mouth, responding, “I have a gap between my teeth.”
In 2019 Usyk began fighting in the heavyweight division, a category far above his natural weight. He swiftly won over international fans with interviews that often bounced from inspiring to playful. When a reporter asked him what sets him apart from other fighters, he pointed to his mouth, responding, “I have a gap between my teeth.”
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Usyk (center right) armed with one of his own weapons during the early days of the Russian invasion.
In February 2022, Usyk was in the UK when his wife texted him the news that Russia was invading Ukraine. The boxer immediately flew to Poland, then drove to Kyiv where he joined a territorial defense battalion.
In February 2022, Usyk was in the UK when his wife texted him the news that Russia was invading Ukraine. The boxer immediately flew to Poland, then drove to Kyiv where he joined a territorial defense battalion.
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Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning a rematch against British boxer Anthony Joshua in August 2022.
Usyk was convinced by wounded Ukrainian soldiers to leave Ukraine and return to training. “They explained to me that as a soldier I would not be able to do as much for my country as I would as a boxer,” he recalled.
Usyk was convinced by wounded Ukrainian soldiers to leave Ukraine and return to training. “They explained to me that as a soldier I would not be able to do as much for my country as I would as a boxer,” he recalled.
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Usyk (left) dodges a hook from British heavyweight Tyson Fury in May 2024.
The Ukrainian boxer captured the world’s imagination with a David vs. Goliath display against Tyson Fury, who was 18 kilos heavier than Usyk at weigh-in and has an 18 centimeter reach advantage. Usyk has beaten Fury twice, handing the Briton his only defeats. Usyk remains unbeaten as a professional.
The Ukrainian boxer captured the world’s imagination with a David vs. Goliath display against Tyson Fury, who was 18 kilos heavier than Usyk at weigh-in and has an 18 centimeter reach advantage. Usyk has beaten Fury twice, handing the Briton his only defeats. Usyk remains unbeaten as a professional.
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Usyk alongside Daniel Dubois during weigh-ins on July 18.
Usyk has said amid the ongoing Russian invasion he is primarily motivated by the inspiration he knows he offers to his fellow Ukrainians. “I’m not boxing for the belt now, I’m boxing for everyone who is defending our country, and in memory of those warriors who are no longer with us.
The Usyk-Dubois fight will be held in London’s Wembley Stadium on July 19.
Usyk has said amid the ongoing Russian invasion he is primarily motivated by the inspiration he knows he offers to his fellow Ukrainians. “I’m not boxing for the belt now, I’m boxing for everyone who is defending our country, and in memory of those warriors who are no longer with us.
The Usyk-Dubois fight will be held in London’s Wembley Stadium on July 19.
