The final fights in the fascinating and hugely exciting World Boxing Super Series are soon to be upon us, at both super-middleweight and at cruiserweight. And in terms of the 200 pound tournament, many fans and experts are picking unbeaten Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk to pick up The Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Southpaw Usyk, 13-0(11) will face Mairis Breidis, the reigning WBC cruiserweight champ, this Saturday night in Riga, Latvia, and the WBO champ can emerge as a two-belt ruler who is set for a place in the final if he can take away Breidis’ unbeaten record of 23-0(18). It could be a great fight and a great night on Saturday, but already Usyk is looking at even bigger things:
“I will love up to heavyweight and show them all how good I am,” Usyk told Sky Sports. “I think you can see yourself, I will fight him [Anthony Joshua]. Not yet though. But it is a question everybody keeps asking me, so once we go face to face, we will find out. It will be good.”
Of course everyone wants a piece of AJ – THE top ticket seller in all of heavyweight boxing today, and Usyk certainly has shown skills that could take him to success in the sport’s premiere weight division. At 6’3” Usyk is no huge man but there have been smaller, less tall fighters who have made it at heavyweight over the years. And with his experience – European amateur champ, World amateur champ and Olympic gold medal winner – the 31 year old has seen it all style-wise.
Who knows, Usyk might be just two wins away from his heavyweight debut. Whether that fight would be an immediate shot at a world title or not remains to be seen. Usyk, who has fought up at heavyweight as an amateur, is already on some pound-for-pound lists and he is arguably the finest top level fighter many people have not (yet) seen in action.
True global stardom will be Usyk’s if he can win The WBSS AND then go on to rule at heavyweight.
