Oleksandr Usyk

Exclusive | Zhilei Zhang Picks Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Winner and is Ready to Face Both ‘Without Hesitation’

Exclusive | Zhilei Zhang Picks Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Winner and is Ready to Face Both 'Without Hesitation' Chinese boxing star Zhilei Zhang will have a close eye on next month’s highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk…

Chinese boxing star Zhilei Zhang will have a close eye on next month’s highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

In May, Usyk scored a split decision victory over ‘The Gypsy King’ in Saudi Arabia to become boxing’s first unified heavyweight world champion in more than two decades. On Saturday, December 21, they’ll run it back in what will likely be one of the biggest rematches in the history of the sport.

Hoping to face the winner is the WBO’s No. 2 ranked heavyweight contender, Zhilei Zhang. Winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Zhilei has amassed an impressive 27-2 record as a pro and is coming off perhaps his biggest win yet — a fifth-round TKO against former WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder.

In an exclusive interview with LowKick MMA courtesy of AceOdds.com, Zhilei revealed who he believes will come out on top when Usyk and Fury run back their critically acclaimed scrap this holiday season.

“I hope Usyk wins because I’m a fan of his style,” he said. “I really like the way he boxes, but let’s see if Tyson Fury makes his adjustments.”

Zhilei Zhang is ready to fight either Usyk or Fury ‘without hesitation’

As for who he’d rather face, it makes no difference to Zhilei.

“Yeah, of course, I’ll do it now,” he said when asked about facing the winner. “Without hesitation.”

Zhilei scored a sixth-round TKO against Joe Joyce in April 2023 to win the interim WBO heavyweight title. He then successfully defended the belt in a rematch with Joyce five months later before surrendering the gold to Joseph Parker in March via a majority decision. He has since bounced back with his dominant showing against Wilder — a victory that has all but guaranteed him a shot at the winner of Usyk vs. Fury 2.

‘Like a Baseball Bat’ Oleksandr Usyk Names Hardest Hitter He’s Battled

The heavyweight boxing king Oleksandr Usyk is now on top of the world after defeating Tyson Fury in May…

The heavyweight boxing king Oleksandr Usyk is now on top of the world after defeating Tyson Fury in May to add the WBC belt to his esteemed collection.

The fight with Fury was a brutal war. Things went back and forth, and both men suffered each other’s wrath. Things looked pretty close heading into the ninth round, where Usyk landed a knockdown on Fury that would later prove highly pivotal on the judges’ scorecards.

After the battle, Usyk held the WBC, IBF, WBA, and WBO belts and was truly on top of the heavyweight boxing world. Unfortunately, Oleksandr Usyk has since had to relinquish his IBF title, which Daniel Dubois now holds.

Dubois is also a former victim of the Ukrainian heavyweight phenom. The two fought back in 2023, and Usyk scored a beautiful knockout over his opponent.

Oleksandr Usyk opens up about which of his opponents hit the hardest

While speaking with the Three Knockdown Rule podcast, Usyk spoke on his many trials as a boxer. He told the hosts how the Tyson Fury fight was definitely his toughest so far, but did mention that Fury wasn’t the hardest hitter that he has ever faced. In fact, Derek Chisora holds that honor.

“Toughest fight?” Usyk said (H/T Seconds Out). “Yes, it was [Fury]. Biggest punch – no. Because Derek Chisora, very tough guy. [A punch landed] on the gloves, and I said: ‘Oh my God.’ Like a baseball bat.”

Oleksandr Usyk fought Chisora in 2020. It was just his second fight in the banner division after deciding to move up from cruiserweight. Usyk ultimately won via points, but he can probably still close his eyes and imagine Chisora’s fearsome power.

Were you surprised by Usyk’s answer, and do you think it would change if he fought somebody like a Deontay Wilder or Francis Ngannou?

Mike Tyson’s Top 5 Boxing Picks Before His Comeback: Who Made the Cut?

Before making his long-awaited return to the ring on November 15, legendary pugilist ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson revealed his five…

Before making his long-awaited return to the ring on November 15, legendary pugilist ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson revealed his five favorite boxers from today’s crop of world-class talent.

Emanating from the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the former undisputed heavyweight world champion will compete in his first professional boxing bout in nearly 20 years when he meets YouTube sensation Jake Paul.

Before making the most anticipated comeback in the sport’s history, Tyson appeared on the Pound-4-Pound podcast with former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo to preview his showdown with ‘The Problem Child.’ Along the way, Tyson revealed who he considers to be the five best boxers in the business today.

“[David] Benavidez, ‘Tank’ [Gervonta Davis], Shakur [Stevenson] when he’s got that kind of guy, like if ‘Tank’ was fighting him. Something like that. Who else? Of course we’ve got [Terence] ‘Bud’ Crawford, and listen, I like [Errol] Spence Jr. too. I think Spence Jr. could come back and still get his title back. I really think so, I think Spence Jr. is an underrated fighter.”

Mike Tyson weighs in on usyk vs. fury 2

Interestingly, Tyson left Oleksandr Usyk off the list. In May, the Ukrainian became the first unified heavyweight titleholder in more than two decades when he defeated Tyson Fury via split decision in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk and Fury will run it back on December 21 in what may very well be the biggest rematch of the decade. Offering his take on the sequel scrap last month, Tyson suggested that ‘The Gypsy King’ played around a little too much the first time around.

“Hey, listen, Usyk surprised everybody. I think Tyson Fury played around too much,” ‘Iron’ said while speaking with Talksport. “I think he needs to be taking fights serious and hopefully he’ll get a different result.”

Oleksandr Usyk Combines Kickboxing, Judo, and Wrestling to Perfect His Boxing Mechanics

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk combines mixed martial arts into his boxing training. According to him, these techniques help him use…

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk combines mixed martial arts into his boxing training. According to him, these techniques help him use the perfect style when it comes to earning titles in the ring.

At a perfect 22-0 in professional boxing, Oleksandr Usyk knows his stuff. After earning a gold medal in the Olympics, ‘The Cat’ first gained international recognition by winning the undisputed cruiserweight championship in 2018, defeating several top contenders in the World Boxing Super Series. Usyk’s transition to heavyweight was marked by significant success. He captured the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua in September 2021, a victory he repeated in a rematch in August 2022. His most recent achievement came on May 18, 2024, when he secured a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury, making him the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Speaking in a behind-the-scenes moment with Mario Lopez, Oleksandr Usyk explained using mixed techniques to perfect his boxing game. He said:

“It’s good. Our wrestling, our jiu-jitsu, Judo, sambo. Good mechanic. Your right hips. It’s good punch. Turn it over. Because a lot of people have only hands. I’m playing Judo, Kickboxing.”

A heavyweight world champion boxer who is undefeated, plus has skills in jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and sambo. That’s a recipe for a perfect fighter.

Oleksandr Usyk will look to defend his heavyweight titles against the former world champion Tyson Fury. The British-born Fury will be looking to avenge his prior loss and recollect his gold from the Ukranian boxer. Their rematch is booked for December 21, 2024, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury Promises to Go All-In Against Oleksandr Usyk: ‘Not Going for Points, I’m Gonna Knock Him Out’

Tyson Fury is taking a ‘no holds barred’ approach to his upcoming heavyweight boxing rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. Fury…

Tyson Fury is taking a ‘no holds barred’ approach to his upcoming heavyweight boxing rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury and Usyk will clash in one of the biggest boxing fights of the year on December 21 in Riyadh. Usyk defeated Fury in their previous clash in May by split decision, retaining his heavyweight titles and winning the WBC belt.

After suffering his first professional loss, Fury is out for revenge against Usyk when they meet again in the ring. He’s also intending to leave it out of the judges’ hands and earn the rematch victory on his terms.

Fury is targeting his first boxing finish since knocking out Derek Chisora in Dec. 2022.

Tyson Fury embracing the challenger role for Oleksandr Usyk rematch

In a recent interview with Paul Dempsey, Fury shared his newly-found mindset for the Usyk rematch.

“I’m gonna go in there with destroy mode,” Fury declared. “Last time I went to box him, I was being cautious… Anybody can get caught as we have seen in a lot of these heavyweight fights. But this time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m gonna knock that motherfu**er out.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

Fury details the chip on his shoulder as he prepares to rematch Usyk.

“For the first time in years, I’m going in there as a challenger, not a champion,” Fury explained. “And I believe that I’m better as a challenger, always, because I’ve got that goal of achieving something and it’s giving me a fire underneath.”

Fury isn’t a stranger to rematches inside the boxing ring. After a split draw against Deontay Wilder in 2018, he earned back-to-back TKO/KO victories to decide the trilogy.

Before the loss to Usyk, Fury defeated former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in 2023. Fury’s defeat earlier this year snapped a 35-fight unbeaten streak in his professional boxing career.

Fury is out for blood against Usyk. While Fury is known as a defensive boxing genius, don’t be surprised if he takes an aggressive approach to his attempt at vengeance.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Steps In As Oleksandr Usyk Was Arrested in Airport

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland. According to a report from…

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland.

According to a report from ESPN, the Ukrainian superstar was handcuffed and escorted off a jet bridge at Krakow Airport in Poland while trying to board a flight to Valencia, Spain where he’s expected to begin preparing for his highly anticipated rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.

According to a source, Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel.

Fortunately, the incident was resolved quickly according to Usyk who took to social media shortly after his release.

“Dear friends, a misunderstanding took place,” Usyk wrote on X. “It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Ukrainian President aids in resolving Oleksandr Usyk Detainment

Helping in the resolution was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who engaged Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. Not long after, Usyk was allowed to travel, but Zelenskyy was still left “disappointed” by the treatment that Usyk and Lapin received during their travels.

“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained, I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelenskyy wrote. ‘I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.

“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.”

Ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Usyk is a perfect 22-0 in his career with noteworthy wins against Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and the aforementioned Tyson Fury. Usyk is expected to be in attendance this Saturday night when Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight world title against Dubois at Wembley Stadium.