- Oleksandr Usyk is preparing for his rematch with Tyson Fury on Saturday night
- There are a number of remarkable similarities between Usyk and Muhammad Ali
Oleksandr Usyk will aim to cement his greatness by beating Tyson Fury for the second time in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
The Ukrainian superstar edged Fury on points in their first meeting in May, and seven months later they are set to do it all over again.
It will be only Usyk’s seventh fight at heavyweight, but he has already created an impressive legacy in boxing’s blue-riband division after being crowned the undisputed champion earlier this year.
Another heavyweight who was undeniably the best heavyweight of his era was Muhammad Ali. The American icon christened himself ‘The Greatest’ after his shock victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, and by the end of his career it was hard to disagree.
Usyk has previously stated that Ali, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, is his boxing idol, and it turns out that there are a remarkable number of similarities between the pair.
First of all, they were both born on the same date – January 17. That is already a good omen for Usyk, and then you look at their physical characteristics.
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has a number of similarities with Muhammad Ali
Usyk and Ali were born on the same date and have almost identical physical characteristics
Usyk will hope to use his skills to his advantage when he takes on Tyson Fury on Saturday night
At his peak, Ali was 6ft 3in tall, weighed around 220lbs and had a 78in reach. Usyk is exactly the same height, has an identical reach and his weight is very close as well.
For his first fight with Fury, Usyk tipped the scales at 223lbs and was in optimal condition as he came on strong in the second half of the contest to get his hand raised.
We then move on to their achievements. At just 18, Ali won Olympic gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
Fifty-two years later, Usyk struck gold at London 2012 and the professional ranks beckoned.
He became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, and is now the best heavyweight on the planet, just like Ali was.
| Oleksandr Usyk | Muhammad Ali | |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday | January 17, 1987 | January 17, 1942 |
| Height | 6 ft 3in (190cm) | 6ft 3in (190cm) |
| Reach | 78in | 78in |
| Weight | Around 220lbs | Around 220lbs |
| Olympic gold medals | London 2012 | Rome 1960 |
| Heavyweight titles | Current champion | Three-time champion |
Ali was known for his skill as well as his heart and determination, and he won the heavyweight title on three separate occasions.
Usyk remains undefeated and has now held a version of the heavyweight title since 2021.
But he has still been tested by the likes of Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois before eventually prevailing.
He can expect another major challenge in his rematch with Fury on Saturday night, but if he can dig deep like Ali did in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and the ‘Thrilla in Manila’, he may just have too much for the Brit once again.
HOW TO WATCH: Click to register and watch Usyk vs. Fury 2 on DAZN here
