Even when he’s not fighting, Oleksandr Usyk remains GIF-worthy and newsworthy.
Usyk was involved in comedic moments on the sidelines of the “Last Crescendo” card Saturday in Riyadh, even if he didn’t take part in either of the heavyweight bouts. Usyk handed Agit Kabayel the interim WBC belt earned by slaying Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang with body shots, mouthing along “champion of the wooooorld” with the ring announcer.
Usyk is also friends with Anthony Joshua, whom he beat by unanimous decision for three world titles in 2021 and then defended with a split decision in their 2022 rematch. The heavyweights sat near each other at ringside, sharing a number of amusing exchanges such as Usyk appearing to show Joshua a jab technique. When Joseph Parker knocked Martin Bakole down conclusively with a jolting shot to the top of the head, Usyk and Joshua turned to each other with the universal “ohhh” that accompanies shocking moments in sports.
But the lineal heavyweight champion (and WBA/WBC/WBO titleholder) was also a serious background character during the February 22 card. After chasing that title for years, Usyk is now the man being called out.
After defeating Bakole, Parker said: “If Usyk wants a dance partner, I’ll get Uncle Frank [Warren of Queensberry Promotions] to come in here and lock down a fight with Usyk.”
Parker is riding a stunning career resurgence during which he has beaten Bakole, Deontay Wilder and Zhang. He seems to have solved the puzzle of how to fight a big puncher. Few would dispute that Parker deserves a shot at the champion. And as the interim WBO titleholder, he’s in line for that fight.
So is Kabayel, who would surely love to get in the ring with Usyk, not least because his preferred method of victory – knockout via vicious body attack – figures to bother Usyk, who tends to take head shots better than body shots.
And then there’s the IBF titleholder, Daniel Dubois, who pulled out of his scheduled fight with Parker due to an illness but currently seems the most likely immediate opponent for Usyk. Dubois squared off with Usyk in 2023, losing via ninth-round TKO and generally being outclassed – though he did land a right hand to the midsection that put Usyk down. The shot was ruled a low blow, though some observers insist the punch was legal.
Dubois has been chasing a rematch with Usyk since, even hopping in the ring after Usyk defeated Tyson Fury for a second time in December and demanding a chance at revenge. Usyk seemed to oblige, telling boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to make the fight.
Usyk-Dubois II is a fine fight, though there is a sense following Parker’s and Kabayel’s impressive wins that it’s now the least appealing of the three options, simply by virtue of it already having happened once. This writer would prefer Parker, since he is more proven than Kabayel.
Earlier this month, Usyk told Sky Sports that he feels he has two fights left in his career, suggesting that of the trio of Dubois, Parker and Kabayel, one or more won’t get their shot.
One thing is for sure: They and others will be clamoring to fight the heavyweight champion before he departs the sport.
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