Ukrainian cruiserweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk has been named the Boxer of the Year 2018 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), the oldest and one of four major organizations that sanction professional boxing bouts.
“Oleksandr Usyk needed just 287 days in 2018 to write his name in the history books of boxing and, in addition, the Ukrainian boxing star established himself as the best boxer in the world this year as he beat whatever obstacle was placed in front of him,” a statement on the WBA’s website reads.
“Usyk swept the World Boxing Super Series tournament by storm beating Mairis Briedis in January and Murat Gassiev in July to become the first cruiserweight in history to hold the title of the World Boxing Association and also those of the World Boxing Council, the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization,” the WBA said.
“Already as unified champion and one of the best in the ranking, Usyk went to the home of former champion Tony Bellew, in the same way he did against Briedis and Gassiev, to put his titles on the line and knock him out brutally in eight rounds in one of the most impressive moments of 2018,” the statement reads.
Usyk is now 31 years old with a record of 16-0 with 12 knockouts.
