SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 15: ARTUR BETERBIEV HAS KNOCKED DOWN OLEKSANDR USYK IN THE AMATEURS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Jan 2024
Artur Beterbiev and Oleksandr Usyk are considered two of professional boxing's most dominant unbeaten world champions.
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Usyk, the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion and current unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight champion, is 21-0 (14 KOs). Meanwhile Beterbiev, the unified IBF, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight king, is 20-0 (20 KOs).
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Artur Beterbiev’s awesome power knocked down Oleksandr Usyk and he beat the heavyweight world champion during the famous amateur trilogy.
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Beterbiev of Khasavyurt, Russia is now 38 years old while Usyk of Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine is 36, and both have been boxing at quality competition since their younger years.
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Both fighters haven't faced each other as professionals because they differ in their weight category, but they had fought three times as amateurs in a legendary trilogy while they were youthful.
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In 2007, when Beterbiev was still aged 22 and Usyk just 20-years old, they fought for the first time in a Russia vs Ukraine Amber Gloves tournament.
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Unfortunately, there is no video footage of this amateur bout, but records show that Beterbiev was the winner on points and it was one of the most remarkable victories as an amateur boxer.
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The two protagonists faced each other again in the 2011 Amateur World Championship quarter-finals. Usyk had a good start and was boxing circles around Beterbiev, but the Russian then connected him with a solid right hand that shook him.
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In the third and final round, Usyk continued to pile up points by landing the cleaner blows, but a hard punch to the body shot forced him to take a knee.
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Because knockdowns are not significant in the overall point system in amateur boxing unlike in the pro fights, the Ukrainian still declared the winner and advanced to the next round of the tournament, which he eventually won.
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The following year, they completed their trilogy at amateur boxing's biggest event, in the 2012 London Olympics. Beterbiev landed Usyk a strong body shot once they faced each other again in a quarter-final.
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However, Usyk was not knocked down this time and repeated his points victory before going on to win the gold medal.
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Now, as pros, the pair are preparing for huge fights in consecutive months.
Artur Beterbiev defended his three world light-heavyweight titles by stopping Britain’s Callum Smith in the seventh round last Saturday in Quebec City, Canada, improving to 20-0 and remaining the only world champion to win every fight by knockout.
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Usyk is scheduled to face Tyson Fury for the undisputed world heavyweight title on February 17. If he wins then he is set to fight Anthony Joshua for the third time.
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Sports History: January 15, 1892. Basketball rules were first published in Triangle Magazine, and written by James Naismith, it's inventor.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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