Oleksandr Usyk is, in the eyes of most boxing aficionados, the number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
After securing gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, the 37-year-old turned professional with a formidable weight upon his shoulders which, in truth, only motivated him to achieve greatness.
Soon enough, the Ukrainian had garnered all the jewellery at cruiserweight before moving up to the land of the giants, where he now reigns supreme.
But even after becoming a two-division undisputed champion following his monumental victory over Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk insists that his illustrious career is only just getting started.
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Oleksandr Usyk reveals exactly why he is rematching Tyson Fury
Following his back-to-back wins over two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Usyk entered an eagerly anticipated clash with Fury, the lineal king at the time.
But before that, ‘The Cat’ had scored a scintillating ninth-round stoppage over Daniel Dubois, who later defended his IBF title with an emphatic display against Joshua.
In many ways, though, it was Usyk’s showdown with Fury back in May that has, at least up until now, largely defined his career.
The former king at 200 lbs was compelled to overcome a significant size disadvantage to claim a split decision victory ‘The Gypsy King.’
In doing so, he proved that he carries the power to hurt even the biggest of operators, coming agonizingly close to stopping Fury in the ninth round.
And yet, even when considering his many accolades, Usyk insists that his boxing journey is by no means over.
“I like this, it’s my life,” he told Boxing King Media. “Listen, what I’ve won – Olympic gold medal, two times undisputed – it’s not my finished career. Maybe it’s only the start of my boxing career.”
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Oleksandr Usyk is fighting for more than just belts
Ahead of their mouthwatering rematch on December 21, Usyk and Fury came face to face at a press conference hosted in London, England, last week.
Dressed as Agent 47 from the Hitman series, Usyk convinced his rival to sign a photo that was taken during their first encounter, illustrating the moment when Fury got caught by a crushing left hand.
Usyk, however, revealed that there was a profound purpose behind the stunt, confirming that he intends to sell the signed photo to raise money for the Ukrainian people.
And so, it is clear that the formidable southpaw is fighting for more than just trinkets, wishing to help those who are suffering as a consequence of Vladimir Putin’s horrific invasion.