Oleksandr Usyk has one title left to pick up before he has ‘completed’ the heavyweight division just like he did at cruiserweight.
The man who stands in the way is Tyson Fury, the current WBC Champion who has his eyes on Usyk’s three titles – the WBA, WBO and IBF.
Usyk was a guest at the WBC’s 2020 Convention Inauguration in Uzbekistan, donning a robe and turban and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and the last man to be undisputed at cruiserweight and heavyweight, Evander Holyfield.
During the ceremony, he managed to get his hands on a title, and proudly proclaimed to the audience ‘this is my belt.’
The Ukrainian has set up training camp in Spain for his bout with Fury, now set for February but not officially announced. Regardless of the date, it will land in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He will enter the ring with perhaps more confidence following Fury’s fight with MMA star and boxing debutant, Francis Ngannou, in the same region.
Fury was knocked down and eked out a split decision win against the former UFC man in a performance he has admitted left a lot to be desired.
The tough ten rounds prevented the undisputed fight happening on December 23 – although a big heavyweight card is set to replace it – and means that fans won’t see a four-belt champion until early 2024.
There’s a rematch clause in the contract for the loser to activate, and that will likely see the IBF, and perhaps other sanctioning bodies, strip the winner.
After over two decades of waiting, it looks like there will only be an undisputed heavyweight champion for a matter of weeks.