Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. He proved that over his two rounds with Tyson Fury.
Usyk won both on the scorecards, changing a split decision in their first fight to a unanimous decision in their second.
Fury was convinced the judges were wrong, but that was a claim Usyk dismissed.
“Okay, no problem. I win,” said the WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion.
“I win, it's enough.”
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Fury takes his birth right after his loss to Usyk
But it was against Fury that Usyk could show his potential for greatness. Fury was a perfect rival for him.
“He's my best friend,” Usyk joked. But he said earnestly: “I have a lot of respect for this man because I think he is very difficult, my opponent. Tyson Fury makes me strong.
“Tyson Fury is a good opponent, big and tough. He's a good guy. Tyson does a lot of talking. It's just (for) show. I respect big for him. Twenty-four rounds, listen now it's already history.”
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Hear what was said between Fury and trainer SugarHill before the final round against Usyk
Usyk has regained the right from another tax fight, although Daniel Dubois, who held the IBF title, was the first to call him for a four-belt unification.
“My next step. I'm going to rest,” said Usyk. “Don't think about boxing, Dubois, Tyson Fury. Just relax. Just play with my kids.”
Ukrainian promoter Alex Krassyuk also noted: “Dubois has to fight Joseph Parker and this is a very difficult fight for him.
“It is too early to mention Daniel's name in relation to Usyk.”
Usyk's greatness is not only due to his excellence in the boxing ring, collecting all the different championship belts, first at cruiserweight, then at heavyweight while he beat the best fighters in each of these categories.
It stands for something. After defeating Fury, Usyk held up a saber, an artifact that had been removed from a museum, which a “hetman” or field marshal had engaged in a war in 17th century against Russia. Usyk knew that he represented the struggle of his people against the current Russian aggression.
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Usyk used his brilliant boxing skills to defeat Fury on the judges' scorecards and retain his world heavyweight titles
With his skill for bringing together personal and political thoughts, Usyk gave victory Saturday night to his mother.
“This victory is for my mother and for all Ukrainian mothers,” he said. “I'm just happy that I won, that's all. I like to inspire people, to inspire them to do something. For me this is my motivation.”
Wladimir Klitschko was the Ukrainian heavyweight champion in the era before Usyk. He was celebrating with the country's new hero in the ring after this last fight.
Klitschko would never box Usyk, but he had entertained the idea of coming out of retirement to fight Fury, who had ousted him as the unified world champion in in 2015. He was happy to say that Usyk would remain retired.
He spoke sadly of the people of his country, with many suffering from an explosion so large that, with the internet being broken, they wouldn't find out the news about Usyk's victory until the next day.
Usyk celebrates with Wladimir Klitschko
“We in Ukraine know that every day is a gift and it is especially important not to look away from this barbaric war that is happening,” Klitschko told Sky Sports.
“Olexandr supports the struggle of our armed forces, supports the struggle of Ukraine, not only financially, not only by what he did in Ukraine, but also he promoting our country through this sport.
“It's another way to show that we Ukrainians are going to defend our right to live in a democratic country. “
For Klitschko, Usyk is still “the worst man on the planet”. After that second win over Fury, few would argue with him now.
