Oleksandr Usyk is a unique boxing talent, though he has admitted he has been inspired along the way by a British fighter.
Usyk has emerged as one of this generation, if not all of history’s, most talented pugilists. The now 38-year-old is a former Olympic Gold medalist from the London 2012 Games and remains unbeaten in the professional ranks across 24 fights and has famously twice beaten the best Britain has to offer in Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois since 2021.
Speaking to TNT SPORTS, Usyk once revealed that it was a British star who inspired his style in the ring back in his amateur days – Prince Naseem Hamed.
“When we were amateurs, we copied his [Naseem Hamed] movements. And we were under pressure in the gym because we were not allowed to do so. They were telling us that it looked like we were losing our concentration, and our focus, like we were out of control. But I kept doing it, even during competitions.”
Sheffield’s Prince Naz remains a legend of the sport and someone who was as captivating inside the ring as he is out of it. His unorthodox style, flamboyant showboating and wildly extravagant ring entrances always got the world talking, and he held multiple featherweight world championships between 1995 and 2000 and ended his career with a record of 36 wins from 37 fights with 31 coming by knockout.
Usyk is also a man of style who has a likeable character and often brings a sense of fun to training, though he is always hugely focused in the ring, which is why he is a three-time undisputed champion across two divisions.
He has recently been called out by a fellow unbeaten heavyweight in Agit Kabayel.