Oleksandr Usyk nominated for “The WBC Best of 2018”

Unified cruiserweight champion, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (15-0, 11 KO), is nominated by the World Boxing Council in the category champion of the year in “The WBC Best of 2018”.

Oleksandr, born on January 17, 1987, had an outstanding career as an amateur, winning the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in the heavyweight division.

In 2017 he was included in the World Boxing Super Series Tournamet, where the best cruiserweights in the world participated. In  his first match he easily defeating former champion Marco Huck by knockout in the tenth round in Germany.

But 2018 was Usyk´s best year by far:

First he challenged the former WBC champion, the previously unbeaten Mairis Briedis in his own home town of Riga in Latvia. That night Oleksandr used his jab very well and landed powerful straight rights on a Briedis who gave  everything in the ring, showing mettle and great heart, roared on  by more than 10 thousand fans. The scores that night reflected what was achieved in the ring. Two judges scored 115-113 in favor of the Ukrainian, while a third saw the fight as a draw 114-114.

On July 21 the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament was held. Oleksandr traveled to Moscow, Russia to face the local undefeated fighter Murat Gassiev at the Olimpiski stadium.

That night Usyk offered a master class in boxing with a magnificent technique and a perfect execution. From the opening bell, the Ukrainian dominated his opponent with combinations from different angles and an excellent mobile ring craft. At times it seemed that Gassiev was in a position to start a counterattack, but Usyk was always on step ahead of him to break the pace and to preserve his dominance. The Russian fighter seemed frustrated at times, as he was effectively and cleverly neutralized by the champion.

The scores in favor of Usyk were 119-109, 119-109 and 120-108, reflected the tone and one sided nature of the fight.

So Usyk became unified champion in the cruiserweight division and the first champion of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, plus he won the Muhammad Ali trophy and the prestigious World Boxing Council Diamond belt, designed especially for this stellar event.

Tomorrow Usyk will have one more challenge in his successful career, when he faces WBC Emeritus  champion  and talented fellow Tony Bellew.

On a card organized by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing at Manchester’s Manchester Arena, Usyk will not only put his unbeaten record and world championship at stake, he will also put his nomination as  “WBC fighter of the year “ on the line.

Online polls to vote for The WBC Best of the Year, will be released soon !!!