
Usyk and ‘Ivan’ – The Undisputed Heavyweight Duo Dominating Boxing Modern Era
How Oleksandr Usyk and his devastating left hook, ‘Ivan’, remain boxing’s most untouchable partnership
There’s something different about Oleksandr Usyk. Something beyond the footwork, beyond the Olympic pedigree, beyond even the undefeated record. It’s a kind of unshakable belief, almost whimsical in its simplicity, but terrifying in execution. On Saturday night at Wembley, in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 90,000, Usyk showed once again why he’s boxing’s most complete fighter—and introduced us to a key part of his arsenal: a left hook he lovingly refers to as “Ivan.”
Yes, Ivan.
Following his emphatic fifth-round knockout victory over Daniel Dubois, which saw Usyk reclaim the IBF heavyweight title and become a two-time undisputed champion, the Ukrainian arrived at his post-fight press conference grinning ear to ear. He was calm, cracking jokes, and ready to introduce the world to the punch that sealed the deal.
“My left hook is called Ivan,” Usyk said, with the mischief of a man who’d just ended another challenger’s hopes. “Ivan is a Ukrainian name. Ivan is a big guy who lives in a village and works for his family. It’s a hard punch, Ivan.”
The room laughed, but the implications were clear: ‘Ivan’ isn’t just a punch. He’s an idea. And as long as Ivan is around, Usyk might just remain unbeatable.
Vintage Usyk: The master of movement, timing, and power
Anyone who’s followed Usyk’s career knows he doesn’t do things the easy way. He hasn’t been handed anything. From his days of dominating the cruiserweight division to climbing the heavyweight ranks, he’s faced challenge after challenge head-on—and always emerged with his hand raised.
Dubois, to his credit, tried. He even got up after a thudding right hook to the temple moments before the finish. But as Usyk saw his opening, he unleashed Ivan with pinpoint accuracy. One left hook, and it was done. Another top heavyweight had fallen at the hands of the master technician.
Throughout the fight, Usyk was in full control. He danced out of danger with his trademark footwork, slipped punches with his cat-like reflexes, and punished Dubois every time he overreached. It was a showcase in timing and intelligence—a boxing clinic disguised as a war.
And in the end, a knockout worthy of the Wembley stage.
Usyk joins Ali in historic club of undisputed legends
In beating Dubois for a second time, Usyk did more than just reclaim a belt. He secured his place in boxing history.
He now joins Muhammad Ali as the only fighters to become undisputed heavyweight champion twice—a distinction that underscores the level of greatness we’re witnessing. And unlike many modern fighters, Usyk didn’t wait for belts to be handed to him or opponents to fade away. He went and took everything the hard way.
His path? Beat Anthony Joshua twice. Beat Tyson Fury. Voluntarily vacate the IBF belt to pursue a Fury rematch. Then come back and beat the man holding that belt. That man was Daniel Dubois, and he couldn’t get past Usyk the first time—or the second.
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, put it best after the fight.
“What he achieved today, it was designated by him a little bit more than a year ago,” said Klimas. “His decision was to vacate the title and let Dubois beat someone, and then to fight for a third time for undisputed. That was his plan a year ago. He is not just a good boxer, but he is good mentally.”
Where does Usyk rank among the heavyweight greats?
This is where things get interesting. There’s always a temptation to hold off on discussions about “all-time” status until a career is complete—but in Usyk’s case, the conversation is already heating up.
Let’s look at the numbers:
-
Undefeated in 24 professional fights
-
Olympic gold medalist (2012)
-
Undisputed cruiserweight champion
-
Two-time undisputed heavyweight champion
-
Eight heavyweight fights, six of them for world titles
-
Wins over Joshua (twice), Fury (twice), and Dubois (twice)
That’s not just elite—it’s historic.
Many rightly point out that today’s heavyweight division doesn’t quite have the depth of previous eras. Fair. But that doesn’t diminish Usyk’s accomplishments. In fact, in a sport where politics often block big fights, Usyk has consistently taken the risks that others won’t. And he’s come out clean on the other side every time.
Carl Frampton summed it up simply: “He’s a legend. He can compete in any era. He’s beaten everyone—and three of the top guys twice.”
Can anyone stop Usyk? The list is getting shorter
If you’re looking for someone to take down Usyk, good luck. Tyson Fury, widely considered the only man with a real shot, has now lost to Usyk twice. Daniel Dubois gave it his all, twice, and still couldn’t come close. Anthony Joshua, once the golden boy of British boxing, was outclassed both times.
So who’s left?
There are whispers about Joseph Parker, who’s riding a six-fight win streak and holds the WBO interim belt. Parker has experience, power, and a world title on his résumé—but against someone as slippery and cerebral as Usyk, would he be more than another name on the list?
Then there’s Moses Itauma, a 20-year-old phenom with frightening knockout power. But with only 12 pro fights under his belt, throwing him in with Usyk now would be premature—even reckless.
The truth is, no blueprint exists yet to beat Oleksandr Usyk. No opponent has figured out how to match his movement, adjust to his timing, or crack his chin. He’s not just undefeated—he’s untouchable.
Final thoughts: A champion like no other
Oleksandr Usyk may not be the loudest voice in boxing. He doesn’t scream into microphones or make empty promises. But what he does bring is authenticity—plus an almost supernatural ability to turn fights into art.
And now, he’s doing it with a little help from Ivan.
What we’re witnessing isn’t just dominance—it’s a rare kind of boxing genius. Whether Usyk has two more fights left or five, whether he adds more belts or chooses to bow out at the peak, one thing is certain: we’ll be talking about him for generations.
Because champions come and go, but legends like Usyk? They leave a mark forever.
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment!