Oleksandr Usyk made a massive statement very early in his career.
After winning an Olympic gold medal, the southpaw turned professional and quickly started making waves.
Usyk destroyed Felipe Romero in his debut, and by his sixth fight, he was ready to take a massive step up in competition.
However, despite the magnitude of the challenge in front of him, the gifted athlete more than rose to the occasion.
WOW: Oleksandr Usyk named fighter who will take over from him as the world heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Danie Venter
On December 13, 2014, Oleksandr Usyk went toe-to-toe with Danie Venter inside the Palace of Sports in Kyiv, Ukraine.
His South African adversary represented his country in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, making him a more than worthy opponent.
However, despite his class, he was no match for Usyk.
Showcasing his remarkable footwork, the now two-weight world champion bounced in and out of range, landing shots to both head and body.
While Venter found the target more often than previous opponents, he was still left dumbfounded by the puzzle in front of him.
In the ninth, Usyk pinned his opponent to the ropes and started unleashing a flurry of punches, with a left hook wobbling his foe to the core.
As the bombs continued to land, Venter could take no more, tumbling towards the canvas, prompting the referee to call a halt to the action.
Oleksandr Usyk won first world title by beating a champion who’d finished an icon
Just four bouts after his victory over Venter, Usyk was ready to challenge for his first world title.
However, claiming the belt was no easy task, as his opponent had won the strap himself against a legend.
In a stunning performance, Usyk became WBO cruiserweight champion against a tough fighter.