Oleksandr Usyk is ‘getting old’…will Fabio Wardley catch him at the right time?

fabio wardley Surprisingly booked his heavyweight title shot joseph parker Saturday night in a modern heavyweight classic.

The Briton was behind on the scorecards before the 11th round, but had to hold off the pressure and is now in line to face the undisputed champion. oleksandr usyk next.

Wardley’s team have already started talking about their man’s prospects, as their manager, Michael Ofo, claimed in an interview with The Ring that Usyk has been in many “tough fights” and is “getting older”.

So, are they right? Can Wardley catch Usyk at the right time to pull off another huge upset?

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Who has given tough competition to Usyk?

Usyk has won all 24 of his professional bouts since switching from the amateur ranks following his Olympic victory in 2012. But they don’t have everything their own way.

His first major test came in his 14th competition when he traveled to Latvia to face Maris Briedis in the world cruiserweight semi-finals. boxing Super Series.

Briedis was unbeaten at the time and gave as good a performance as he had for long stretches of the fight. Usyk had to work hard in the championship round to earn a majority decision and advance to the finals.

His final two fights at cruiserweight were more straightforward as he completely defeated Murat Gassiev in the final to win the tournament and then defeated Tony Bellew inside eight rounds.

But his move up to heavyweight presented new challenges. In just his second fight in boxing’s blue-riband division, Usyk fought dereck chisoraAnd he struggled to cope with the constant pressure from Britain.

Chisora ​​had a lot of success in the first half of the contest and Usyk needed to make adjustments in the latter rounds to ultimately win via unanimous decision.

was next anthony joshuaUsyk made their first meeting look surprisingly easy as he dismantled Joshua for a clear points victory. However, the rematch was very close.

Joshua attacked Usyk’s body more and looked to trouble the Ukrainian great in the ninth round.

However, like a true champion, Usyk responded well to finish strongly and get his hand raised again.

Usyk did light work Daniel DuboisApart from a controversial low blow decision, and then set his sights on tyson fury,

Fury was on top halfway through their undisputed clash, but Usyk turned the fight on its head by landing a huge combination in the ninth round, causing Fury to count out.

Usyk did not give up in the final round and did enough to win by split decision. The rematch was a more tactical affair and less physically demanding, but Usyk still had to work hard to score points.

He was back to his best in his last outing as he stopped Dubois for the second time, requiring only five rounds on this occasion.

But it’s fair to say that Briedis, Chisora, Joshua and Fury have all pushed Usyk, and that could have a cumulative effect over time.

How old is Usyk?

Usyk competed in two Olympic Games, in 2008 and 2012 respectively. His first experience was disappointing as he lost in the quarter finals and did not get a medal.

This convinced him to remain in the amateur game for the next four years and was rewarded when he won a gold medal in London.

He finally stepped up to the professional ranks in 2013 and made his debut just two months before his 27th birthday.

Usyk spent the next five years in the cruiserweight division and did not move up to heavyweight until the age of 32.

He has always worked at his own pace, but some have questioned how much time he has left in boxing.

Usyk will turn 39 in January, and the end of the road may be in sight. He has claimed that he will remain in the position until the age of 41, but in recent times he has started suffering more injuries, and it would not be a surprise to see him leave in the near future.

Who else has won the heavyweight title at the same age?

When looking at other legends who were champions well into their late thirties, Usyk is in respectable company.

Wladimir Klitschko was 39 when he was finally dethroned by Tyson Fury in 2015, while Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield both held the title until they were 38.

Muhammad Ali was still a champion at the age of 37, which highlights how it is possible for great fighters to continue to flourish even in the later stages of their careers.

It should also be noted that Vitali Klitschko was 42 when he retired as world champion, and George Foreman famously climbed the top of the heavyweight mountain at the age of 45.

If Usyk is taking inspiration from Foreman or the elder Klitschko brother, he may still have several years ahead of him, which would be bad news for Wardley and company.

Has Usyk shown signs of slowing down?

Usyk has been involved in eight heavyweight bouts since joining the division in 2019. What is worrying his rivals is that he continues to get better.

There were concerns about whether he would be physically able to lift heavy weight after Chisora ​​took him close, but Usyk has gradually increased his weight and strength, and now appears far more comfortable against naturally larger men.

He has consistently given up a size advantage against the likes of Joshua, Fury and Dubois but has still found a way to win.

The rematches with Fury and Dubois were particularly interesting as Usyk won them more easily than in their first encounters.

Fury had troubled Usyk with his use of uppercuts in their first fight but could barely land him the second time around.

Earlier this year, the story was that Dubois was much improved ahead of his second clash with Usyk and many believed he could get revenge after his knockout loss two years ago.

However, Usyk dominated from start to finish before knocking out Dubois in the fifth. Based on that performance he is still at the top of his game.

Will Father Time catch up with Usyk against Wardley?

Usyk has looked better than ever in his recent fights, and it’s probably wishful thinking on the part of Wardley’s team to believe he’s over the hill.

But time waits for no one, and it’s likely that could have an effect on Usyk when he faces Wardley next year.

Usyk relies on his timing and cat-like reflexes to overcome his opponents, but if these attributes begin to fail him, Wardley’s chances will only get better.

There is no doubt that Usyk will enter the fight as the overwhelming favorite. The future Hall of Famer has overcome every challenge thrown his way to become the greatest of all-time.

But Wardley is not fazed by the betting odds, as he showed when he defied his underdog status to defeat Parker on Saturday night.

He’s full of confidence that he can accomplish the seemingly impossible task of taking down Usyk, and if the heavyweight king is headed down the other side of the mountain, Wardley could bring him down at just the right time to continue his fairy tale.

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