Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. He proved that during his two matches with Tyson Fury.
Usyk won both on the scorecards, converting a split decision in their first fight to a unanimous decision in their second fight.
Fury was adamant that the judges were wrong, but that was a claim Usyk simply rejected.
“Okay, no problem. I win,” the unified WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion said.
“I won, that's enough.”
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Fury makes his ruling immediately after his loss to Usyk
But in facing Fury, Usyk was able to prove his ability to achieve greatness. Fury was the perfect opponent for him.
“He's my best friend,” Usyk joked. But he added honestly: “I respect this guy a lot because I think he's a very tough opponent. Tyson Fury makes me tough.”
“Tyson Fury is a great opponent, big and strong. He's a good guy. Tyson talks a lot. It's just a show. I respect him a lot. Twenty-four rounds, listen now and it's already history.”
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Listen to what Fury and his coach Sugar Hill had to say before the final round against Usyk
Usyk has earned the right to recover from another taxing fight, although IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois was the first to call for him to unify the four belts.
“My next step. I'll rest,” Usyk said. “Don't think about boxing, Dubois, Tyson Fury. Just rest. Just play with my kids.”
As Ukrainian promoter Alex Krasyuk 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 solely due to his excellence in the boxing ring, where he has amassed every disparate championship belt, first at cruiserweight, then at heavyweight while defeating the best fighters in each of those divisions.
He stands for something. After defeating Fury, Usyk held up a high sword, an artifact sent from the museum, used by a “hetman” or marshal in the 17th century war against Russia. Usyk knew he was representing his people's struggle against the current Russian invasion.
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Usyk used his brilliant boxing skills to beat Fury on the judges' scorecards and retain his world heavyweight titles
With a knack for incorporating the personal and the political into his thoughts, Usyk dedicated Saturday night's victory to his mother.
“This victory is for my mother and for all Ukrainian mothers,” he said. “I'm happy that I won, that's all. I like to motivate people, give them the motivation to do something. For me, that's my motivation.”
Wladimir Klitschko was the dominant heavyweight champion from Ukraine in the pre-Usyk era. He was celebrating with his country's new champion in the ring after this latest fight.
Klitschko was never going to face Usyk, but was considering coming out of retirement to fight Fury, who dethroned him as unified world champion in 2015. He was happy to say a Usyk win would keep him retired.
He spoke in a bleak voice about the people of his country, many of whom faced bombing so badly that, with the internet cut off, they could not learn news of Usyk's victory until the next day.
Usyk celebrates with Wladimir Klitschko
Klitschko explained: “We in Ukraine know that every day is a gift and it is especially important not to look away from this brutal war that is taking place.” Sky Sports.
“Olexander supports the struggles of our military forces, supports the Ukrainian struggles, not only financially, not only through his actions while in Ukraine, but he also promotes our country through this sport.
“It is another way to show that we Ukrainians will defend our right to live in a democratic country.”
For Klitschko, Usyk is of course still “the worst man on the planet.” After this second victory over Fury, few would argue with him now.