Oleksandr Usyk: Top 5 fights that shaped the new heavyweight contender

Oleksandr Usyk's top 5 fights that shaped his journey to undsiputed cruiserweight champion and a heavyweight contender

Oleksandr Usyk will take on his first real step-up in the heavyweight division on Saturday where he meets Dereck Chisora on Saturday night live from SSE Arena in London.

The Ukranian is a former undsiputed cruiserweight champion for the first time in history where he reigned supreme for all of his professional career before moving up to the heavyweight division in 2019 after sixteen victories.

GBN take a look at the southpaw's five most important victories during his career:

5. Oleksandr Usyk vs Krzysztof Glowacki

The Ukranian made his first leap up to world title level and in return was taken into the deep end for just the second time in his career. He fought for the WBO world cruiserweight title for the first time, where he took on a tough test against Polish cruiserweight Glowacki who was on an unbeaten record of 26-0.

Usyk brought a tremendous display of speed,power and precision once again after such a successful start to his professional career and comprehensively outboxed Glowacki taking the fight by a large deficit on the judge's scorecards at 111-117, 111-117 and 109-119 to begin his spell of domination at the elite-level of the cruiserweight division.

4. Oleksandr Usyk vs Michael Hunter

This fight was a very important night for Usyk who managed to successfuly defend his world title and grind out a tremendous display of technique and boxing intelligence to take down one of the cruiserweight divisions leading contenders in 2017.

Oleksandr Usyk downed Hunter in the twelfth round with a down ruled by referee Bill Clancy after Hunter lost his footing and balance leaving Usyk ahead on a unanimous scorecard decisiononce again.

Usyk claimed the victory with scorecards all at 117-110 in the Ukranian's favour to secure victory and another huge step to becoming the top fighter in the cruiserweight division.

3. Oleksandr Usyk vs Mairis Breidis

Usyk had now reached the final of the World Boxing Super Series where he would take on top contender Mairis Breidis with two heavyweight belts on the line, in the biggest career of the Ukranian's career.

The Ukranian struggled in a tremendous brawl against a top opponent in Briedis where both fighters had more succesful periods in the fight but Brieidis landed more throughout the fight.

With a tight margin predicted at the final bell, the scorecards delivered to match the verdict with Usyk prevailing on split decision with scorecards at 115-113, 115-113 and a draw at 114-114.

2. Oleksandr Usyk vs Murat Gussiev

Usyk's next big test came immediately after the fight against Briedis where he took on undefeated Murat Gassiev in Moscow for the undisputed cruiserweight crown to complete the Ukranian's domination.

He produced another technical masterclass in boxing intelligence and precision, keeping Gassiev at a distance and on the back foot taking the fight to the scorecards.

The scorecards handed Usyk a comfortable unanimous decision victory with the judge's cards at 109-119, 109-119, 108-120.

1. Oleksandr Usyk vs Tony Bellew

Usyk produced one of his career best performances against a household name in Tony Bellew who had just defeated David Haye in his last bout.

The Ukranian showed his power and speed throughout the early rounds, but was on the back foot in the middle stanza of the fight with Bellew making in-roads into the Usyk control and being more aggresive to try and force his way back into proceedings.

However, Usyk proved exactly why he became the unified cruiserweight champion for the first time in history, knocking down Bellew in the eight round and forcing an incredible stoppage earning incredible praise from one of the cruiserweight's best fighters in recent years.

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