5 BIGGEST takeaways from Ring of Fire: Oleksandr Usyk can reach untapped heights

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk met in one of the biggest fights of modern times. Usyk joined the exclusive list of lineal heavyweight championship titleholders. WBC champion Fury looked to box the WBA (Super), IBF/WBO/IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles from the opponent. But, he indeed came short.

Be it WBA, IBO, WBO, or even the lineal strap, the Englishman remains the first boxer in history to win every major world title in the heavyweight division at some point. Meanwhile, the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk made his sixth venture at heavyweight. Going 6-0, he welcomes the green and gold hardware home. He is now a two-weight undisputed titleholder.

Twenty-five boxers have held all of the heavyweight titles. The DAZN Exclusive pay-per-view bout set a precedence that would shape the mold of boxing for years to come. The Ukrainian’s run might very well turn him into the heavyweight of the century. Here are some throbbing tidbits to consider in the aftermath.

Gods beget golds

Usyk made headway, following icons such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, and others held it consecutively. Fury’s fellow Brit peer Lennox Lewis did it over two decades ago. In March 1999, he challenged Holyfield for the crown after a seven-year drought. Veering away from mandatory contender John Ruiz, he lost claim on his strap. The belts were fractured ever since.

Undisputed heavyweights have included Jack Dempsey – NYSAC, NBA – July 1922 – Sep. 1926. Gene Tunney, from Sep. 1926. Also, Muhammad Ali – WBC, WBA – February till Sep. 1964; Again till April 1967; October 1974 – Feb. 1978. Joe Frazier. Mike Tyson – WBC, WBA, IBF, came in from Aug.1987 to February 1990, followed by Buster Douglas. Riddick Bowe; finally Lewis – WBC, WBA, IBF – November 1999 – April 2000.

Joe Louis is the longest reigning undisputed heavyweight, at the top for 12 years. Tyson was the youngest undisputed heavyweight at 20 and a consensus fan favorite and knockout artist (44 KOs). Lewis called quits having beaten every man he ever faced. Heavyweights are the brand face of pro-boxing; most undisputed champs have kickstarted some sort of record-breaking primacy in their runs. Usyk could be the same.

Anything is possible

The biggest takeaway would be that the Ukrainian boxer is capable of it all. Oleksandr Usyk, 22-0-0 (14 KOs), wobbled the biggest of rivals. He dished Fury his first defeat in his 16-year illustrious run. ‘The Gypsy King’ faced dangerous competition in the historic showdown. Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) had a stellar standing going in, with one draw. There were doubts about Usyk, a lifelong 200-pound stalwart, despite overcoming a 6’6″ KO artist Anthony Joshua. He is now unblemished with a six-win streak at heavyweight.

There were also scintillating doubts about the performance of a hefty rebounding Fury. However, he proved his worth by almost winning it to the distance. Usyk bagged 115-112 and 114-113 on the judges’ scorecard, while another scored Fury 114-113.

Now, the stout short-range technician has overcome a towering 35-year-old mountain of a man. Through Rounds 1, Rounds 4-5, and 8 onward, he showcased absolute mastery, with minimal striking points and quick leans. Despite cumbersome body shots, Usyk managed to even wobble him hard in R9. There are always debates about Steve Cunningham, Deontay Wilder, or Francis Ngannou crashing him the hardest. Fury veers to Wilder or Ngannou. But visibly, nobody rocked him quite like ‘The Cat.’

Pain is Gain

Until now, he has held WBA Cruiserweight/heavyweight, WBC Cruiserweight/heavyweight, IBF Cruiserweight and heavy, WBO and Ring Cruiserweight, and the Ring Heavyweight straps. Consequently, now Oleksandr Usyk holds the undisputed crown. However, the journey was never meant to be easy.

The Morecambe native is always prone to gaining more mass in midriff. Rebounding from a hard wobble from Ngannou, he underwent a tough trimming regime for the four-belt shootout. His nutritionist, Greg Marriot, told Men’s Health that Fury consumed varying meals in calorific density with an average stimulation of vitamin C, collagen, and black coffee. However, the boxing sphere’s rumor mill went abuzz when Usyk’s prepping methods came to light.

The Ukrainian raised eyebrows after posting a photo showing black bands around his bulging biceps. Working through the painful rigor, he worked with muscle contraction methods. This common tactic often restricts blood flow to arms, helping increase muscular mass. The pneumatic restriction cuffs helped him hone the power to duel with a gargantuan Tyson Fury at range. It goes to show when one puts in the effort, one can achieve anything. As will Usyk in his run, more and more.

Tacticians are better than prodigy

Boasting a lot more timber than the usual staple, heavyweight Fury has always been a calculated combatant. He takes it slow and even often allows punishment. He has remained an unusual champ, getting wobbled more than seven times in his career. Knowing the mettle of his power, he accordingly gives in to heavy hits and ranged shots in the beginning frames. Only to open up with powerful close-range connects, jabs, and uppercuts in the later rounds.

‘The Cat’ understood this early on. He played the perfect tactician, unloading with a swarm of both close-range and hits from afar. Both high torso and bodywork shots. Talking to Boxing Scene in the pre-fight media round phase, he said he was not looking for a knockout. He advocated that the “focus is on boxing.” If he couldn’t garner a KO, he mentioned being willing to take to a 12-round win. He correspondingly did just that.

Usyk’s career-high 223.5 pounds was still meager and short of 30 than the rival. He knew he couldn’t break a mountain; hence, he chipped away at it. Whenever he caught on, Tyson Fury kept circling him, even dishing a barrier-breaking uppercut midway through the sixth. But Usyk kept him to the periphery, charging with powerful and relentless shots. He proved to be a more intelligent boxer in the fallout, a trait that will surely help him further.

The enemy of my enemy

At the behest of Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment (GEA), Turki Alalshikh, Joshua has been promised the best names in the sport. On the high end of the 260-pound mark and 0-2 against Usyk, this now seems the natural selection. Joshua has nudged a return at Wembley in September. After that, they could run things back.

In the chief support bout of the Fury-Usyk event, the Ukranian will continue operating as the undisputed champ for two weeks. His claim to the IBF title strap will be stripped thereafter, down the line. Jai Opetaia bagged the vacant IBF cruiserweight spot in the current hierarchy. Donning his heavyweight presence, Usyk needs to fulfill a contractual rematch clause with Fury. They’ll probably run things back in October.

Another facet of this dynamic is that Oleksandr Usyk boasts his réclame with prime resumes on both Fury and Joshua now. The former WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO champion is already settling into a proposed “Battle of Britain” with Fury. In light of that, one has to wonder – who among Usyk’s biggest heavyweight spoils would come out on top? Who was the better heavyweight – Joshua (28-3-0) or Tyson Fury? Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury needs to happen ASAP.

In case you missed it:

• Oleksandr Usyk now has one more thing in common with Muhammad Ali after historic win
• Anthony Joshua welcomes the winner of the undisputed heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury an Oleksandr Usyk

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