The Fighter of the Year 2024 – Oleksandr Usyk

The pick for Fighter of the Year is easy.

The award winner is undefeated, unbowed, and unbroken.

He climbed the mountain and defeated a man 50 pounds heavier and six inches taller, not once, but twice. He’s the ultimate road warrior. He’s not mouthy or prone to wild scenes and predictions.

His dedication to his chosen profession is unquestioned.

His name? (like you don’t know)

Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk won gold at the 2012 Olympics. He turned pro at 26 – winning a cruiserweight belt in his 10th fight. The southpaw captured the Super Six cruiserweight series by befuddling Murat Gassiev. Usyk moved up to the heavyweight division. Many questioned his decision. He’s too small, was the consistent refrain.

Usyk’s ascent to the top of the heavyweight mountain began five years ago in Chicago. His opponent was Chazz Witherspoon, nephew to former heavyweight champion Tim.

Though shorter and 42 pounds lighter, Usyk wore Witherspoon down and stopped him. Usyk outpointed Drek Chisora in a tough 12-rounder. The fight result brought doubts. Usyk couldn’t handle a big heavyweight.

His next bout was against one of those big heavyweights.

Bookmakers slightly favored Anthony Joshua to defeat Usyk in 2021. Usyk confused Joshua for 12 rounds, using feints and consistent head movement—Usyk almost stopped Joshua in the last round.

A rematch followed 11 months later. Joshua fought better, but Usyk outfoxed him. A win over Daniel Dubois put Usyk in line for a title fight against gigantic Tyson Fury.

The buildup was fun – and the fight was better. Fury boxed well, banking most of the early rounds. Usyk was stunned in round six by a blistering uppercut. Instead of folding, he upped the ante. “The Rabbit”  as Fury called him, hopped in and found his rhythm.

In round nine, a sweeping left turned Fury into a drunken gypsy. The knockdown won Usyk the fight. A rematch was a natural

Fight two was close, but Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) was the sharper man for most of the 12 rounds. Both fighters were on point in stages, but Usyk was more consistent. He bossed several rounds – staying true to himself.

Both fighters worked the body. Usyk systematically fired left hands up and down. His focus was unquestioned.

Usyk answered a Fury jab with a sharp one-two. Like the first fight, Fury gassed out while Usyk grew stronger. He stuck to his plan and outworked the bigger man.

The decision was his across the board.

Fury didn’t like it.

“The judges gave him a Christmas gift,” Fury said. “I feel like I won both fights.”

Feel like and reality are different things.

Usyk was classy, as always, after the fight.

“Tyson Fury makes me strong,” said Usyk. “Tyson Fury continues to motivate me. He is a great opponent.”

Trainer Teddy Atlas had this to say about Usyk.

“The most important thing is at the end of the day, the strongest part of him is the mental part. He’s always in charge of himself. Always.”

“Usyk does what he does,” added Atlas. “He finds a way to win.”

Oleksandr Usyk is the Fighter of the Year for 2024.