Oleksandr Usyk returns to the ring on July 19th in London for a heavyweight championship rematch against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois. The Ukrainian unified champion, boasting a perfect 23-0 record with 14 knockouts, aims to defend his titles at the legendary Wembley Stadium against an opponent he already defeated once.
Usyk's path to boxing greatness wasn't straightforward. Growing up in Crimea, he battled severe double pneumonia as a child that nearly claimed his life. Doctors told his mother he might not survive.
"I was sick for about a year and spent almost all that time in the hospital – two months there, two weeks at home. My grandmother took me to church," Usyk once revealed about his childhood struggle.
This health crisis became the catalyst for his sporting career when a doctor bluntly told him: "Son, only sports will save you from death." Taking this advice to heart, young Oleksandr began running, swimming, and strengthening his body.
Initially, Usyk pursued football, training with "Tavriya" academy, but his temperament led to conflicts. After punching a teammate who tripped him during practice, he left football behind. At 15, following his father's advice, he turned to boxing.
His first coach, Serhiy Lapin, was initially skeptical. "He was already 'old' for boxing. No special physical attributes. Sickly – asthma, underdeveloped chest," Lapin recalled. Yet Usyk's persistence impressed him. Despite getting beaten regularly in training, he kept coming back.
The Ukrainian's amateur career culminated with gold at the 2012 London Olympics, where he celebrated with his now-famous Hopak dance. Tragically, his father never saw this triumph, passing away just before Usyk could show him the medal.
After turning professional, Usyk made history by becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion in just 15 fights, breaking Evander Holyfield's record. He defeated Mairis Briedis for the WBC title and then Murat Gassiev in Moscow to collect all four major belts.
Many doubted Usyk could succeed after moving up to heavyweight, considering him undersized for the division. He proved skeptics wrong by defeating Anthony Joshua twice, claiming the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles from the British star.
The crowning achievement came on May 18, 2024, when Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. He knocked Fury down in the ninth round and won by split decision, then dominated the December rematch for a unanimous decision victory.
Worth noting that Usyk's first bout with Dubois in August 2023 ended controversially. The British boxer landed a blow to Usyk's lower body in the fifth round, claiming it was a legitimate body shot that should have counted as a knockdown. The referee ruled it a low blow, allowing Usyk recovery time before he eventually knocked out Dubois in the ninth round.
Usyk recently stated that he plans only two more fights, including this Dubois rematch. At 37, the champion has begun preparing for life after boxing, purchasing land near Kyiv where he grows blueberries and strawberries.
Can Dubois, nicknamed "Dynamite," overcome the "Ukrainian Cat" at Wembley? The odds heavily favor Usyk, but boxing's heavyweight division has always been unpredictable.
