Aleksandr Usyk (17-0, 12 KOs) defeated Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 29 KOs) via seventh-round TKO Saturday night, October 12 at the Wintrust Arena In Chicago, Illinois.
Usyk’s Heavyweight debut was an impressive one as he looked comfortable at 215 pounds. Every round, Usyk got better and better.
In Round 1, he utilized his jab and movement and by Round 3, Usyk opened up the offense a little more by landing multiple left hands from different angles and working the body.
To start the fifth and sixth, Usyk stepped on the gas, letting his hands go and giving Witherspoon hell. He threw wide shots around the guard of Witherspoon, and mixed in straight lefts when Witherspoon didn’t keep a tight guard.
Usyk battered Witherspoon in the seventh round with an all-out attack. The referee was forced to stop the fight to begin the eight round as Witherspoon was taking a beating, and not fighting back in any way.
Usyk utilized his quick hands and feet to circle Witherspoon throughout the night, as well as faints and getting in-and-out of range without being hit. Basically, he boxed circles around Witherspoon and it wasn’t competitive.
Witherspoon couldn’t handle the movement of the much lighter Usyk, nor could he figure out a way to get his own offense going.
Usyk is the No. 2 rated Heavyweight contender according to the WBA. The WBA is a tricky sanctioning body to work up the rankings as there is a Gold champion, Joe Joyce (10-0, 9 KOs), a Regular Champion , Mahmoud Charr (31-4, 17 KOs), and the Super Champion, which will be the winner of the Andy Ruiz Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) vs. Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) rematch in December.
Usyk is also the No. 1 WBO mandatory contender. He has the options to fight for a belt in his very next bout and according to promoter Eddie Hearn, they could be eyeing the WBO title if the winner of Ruiz-Joshua 2 is forced to vacate.
Who do you want to see Aleksandr Usyk fight next?
