On May 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk made history by becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years. At 37 years old, Usyk joined the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson, marking a significant milestone in the sport.
This achievement is particularly notable as it is the first time since the early 2000s that a boxer has unified all four major heavyweight titles: the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Boxing Organization (IBO), and the International Boxing Federation (IBF). The last boxer to accomplish this feat was Lennox Lewis, who unified three titles in 1999.
Usyk's victory has been a source of national pride for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the win on social media, stating, “Ukrainians hit hard! And in the end, all our opponents will be defeated.”
Additionally, former boxer and current mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, remarked that Usyk has demonstrated to the world that Ukrainians can triumph over formidable adversaries. Usyk's opponent, Tyson Fury, suffered the first loss of his career in this match and has since announced a rematch scheduled for December 21, 2024, in Saudi Arabia.