Usyk is making the move up to heavyweight, while Chisora has been seen as the gatekeeper to world level for some time.
There’s no doubt that the Ukrainian has the superior skill set and the advantage in terms of boxing ability but the question is can Usyk bridge the gap when it comes to size and weight?
Tale of the Tape
Oleksandr Usyk
Fights: 17
Won: 17 (13 KOs)
Lost: 0
Age: 33
Height: 6ft 3in
Reach: 78in
Stance: Southpaw
Weight in last fight: 215lbs
Dereck Chisora
Fights: 41
Won: 32 (23 KOs)
Lost: 9 (3 KOs)
Age: 36
Height: 6ft 1½in
Reach: 74in
Stance: Orthodox
Weight in last fight: 260lbs
Usyk Ready to Prove Heavyweight Ability
Usyk unified the cruiserweight division before deciding to chase the riches that heavyweight boxing has to offer. The Ukrainian also won Olympic gold at the 2012 London games and pound-for-pound he is one of the best fighters on the planet.
Usyk dominated the cruiserweight division and he has stepped up to any challenge that has been presented to him in his 17-fight professional career.
The southpaw beat German Marco Huck in his own back yard to claim the WBO title, before travelling to Moscow and unifying the division when defeating Russian Murat Gassiev.
Usyk boasts an unbeaten 17-fight record and that comes after a fantastic amateur career.
Can Usyk Take Heavyweight Punch?
The Ukrainian has fought just once at the big-hitting division, when stopping Chazz Witherspoon at the end of last year, and the questions are can he carry his punch-power up the divisions and take a heavy-shot from a big fighter?
The southpaw may only have that win against Witherspoon at heavyweight but there are strong indications that moving up in weight class won’t hinder the brilliance of the Ukrainian.
Usyk beat Michael Hunter and Tony Bellew in the cruiserweight division and both of those boxers went on to make successful transitions to the big-hitters division. That pair are good fighters, but as was evident when they took on Usyk, they are not at the Ukrainian’s level.
It’s not as if Usyk is making the jump from middleweight either, it’s cruiser to heavy, and it really does seem to be being overplayed by the media and the prices.
The Ukrainian is 1/10 to win the fight but there could be better value in the method of victory market.
Prices Available on Usyk
There’s 10/11 available about Usyk stopping Chisora and that looks fantastic value.
Yes, Del Boy is tough and he has only been stopped three times in a 41-fight career. Dillian Whyte, David Haye and Tyson Fury are the only men to stop the Londoner hearing the final bell, but Usyk can add his name to that list.
The southpaw is an elite-level fighter and even Chisora believes he is the best boxer he will have shared a ring with. Usyk is unlikely to carry the stunning one-punch power of someone like Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua but he has the variety and movement to break down Del Boy inside the 12-round distance.
Chisora will no doubt try to get in close and use his size and power, but he’s going to get tagged on the way in. Del Boy is a straight-line fighter and doesn’t have the movement to avoid the southpaw’s skills.
Usyk looks to be heading to the top of the heavyweight division. Take this opportunity to grab the big prices while you can.
*All odds correct at time of writing.