You're reading: Usyk KOs South African champion in first professional 12-round fight (VIDEO)

LVIV – A smashing left hook towards the end of the seventh round by Oleksandr Usyk (5-0, 5 KOs) sent Daniel “Billy the Kid” Bruwer (24-6-1, 21 KOs) to the canvas on Oct. 4 to secure the 2012 Olympic gold medalist the World Boxing Organization Intercontinental interim title. 

It was the first real test of the Simferepol
native’s young professional career against a two-handed puncher who is known
for giving as many punches as he takes. The slower South African cruiser weight
champion rarely landed serious shots as he attacked all night. The Ukrainian
south paw was too quick on his feet as he constantly peppered Bruwer, 30, with
right jabs and heavy body shots that at times, showed the South African
grasping for air. Bruwer did hurt Usyk in the fifth with several rights, but the latter recovered with his own combinations. 

Coupled with right-left combinations, Usyk wore
Bruwer down, dishing severe punishment as early as the third with a wicked
right upper cut. But even as the cruiserweight’s face grew more swollen with each round, he
kept coming, leaving many to question whether Usyk had a knockout punch in his
arsenal. 

But the Crimea native silenced any critics late
in the seventh when Bruwer tauntingly approached him with his hands down. Usyk
kept pivoting side to side and unleashed a lightning left hook with his
stronger arm that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas face first. 

Another issue that Usyk addressed was his
endurance. Before last night, he had only fought in fights that didn’t go
beyond five rounds, with last night’s bout set for a full 12 rounds. By the
seventh, Usyk was still the quicker fighter showing excellent footwork and
agility before the constantly charging Bruwer. 

After the fight, Usyk said he expected to knock
out his opponent eventually, but only after wearing him down with a steady
barrage of accurate yet painful punches.