Ukrainian boxer Usyk ranked opponents who hit him hardest: Top pick will surprise you
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Vitaliy Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Undefeated Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk revealed the opponents who delivered the most memorable punches in his career. However, the top spot on his list wasn’t a professional fighter at all – it was a rival who knocked him out during childhood, according to his interview with the Daily Mail.
Usyk’s unusual ranking
In an interview in Kyiv, Oleksandr Usyk, who has 24 professional fights with 24 wins (15 by knockout), shared his personal ranking of punchers.
The list looks fairly predictable – except for the first position.
5. Murat Gassiev – former world champion, whom Usyk defeated to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion
4. Mairis Briedis – Latvian boxer, the only fighter to seriously trouble Usyk in the heavyweight division
3. Tyson Fury – British “Gypsy King,” defeated twice by Usyk in battles for the undisputed heavyweight title
2. Derek Chisora – another British boxer known for his strong pressure and powerful punches
Who tops the list and knocked the champion out
To everyone’s surprise, number one is… a horse. Usyk recalled a funny but dangerous childhood incident.
“Number one – a horse. When I was a kid, one animal hit me – bam! (points to his temple). Zero fights, zero wins, one knockout,” Usyk said.
The incident occurred when the future champion was 12 years old.
He remembered losing consciousness after the blow: “I opened my eyes and asked, ‘Am I alive?’ – ‘Yes, Alex. Oh God, you’re alive!’ The horse’s owner picked me up, and I went home. But there was a small problem: blood was running from my head.”
The champion added that a month later, he returned to find the horse, but it had probably run far away.
