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Boxer Explains The High Value Of Olympic Gold
4 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world Oleksandr Usyk values his Olympic gold medal above all of his world title belts as a professional.
“My gold medal will always be better than undisputed,” said the 37 year old Usyk from Ukraine. “Everyone who does sport – any sport; boxing; judo; karate – they all dream of the Olympic games. I know men with three world championship medals but no Olympic gold – only bronze.”
“I did two Olympics (2008, 2012) and only got one medal. It takes four years – my final opponent [Clemente] Russo had done four Olympics, still no gold medal, in 16 years. The Olympics takes four years but a world title belt is easy – you can get one in six months, or a year. But professional boxing is a business for some people.”
“For me it is sport but for a lot of people it is a business; it’s money; belts; fame. For me, first, it is a sport.”
Usyk’s high respect for Olympic gold raises the value of the Olympic gold medal for tennis which will be contested this summer in Paris, France. Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles in his pro tennis career, which has spanned over two decades, but so far he has not managed to win an Olympic gold medal in tennis.
Djokovic won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China but since then he’s competed in three more Olympics and not added any more medals to his collection. Paris Olympics 2024 will be his fifth Olympic Games competition. Djokovic has said he would like to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“The Olympics Games are the oldest and most prestigious sporting event in the history of sport. It’s a huge honor to represent Serbia at the Olympic Games,” Djokovic said earlier this year at Laureus Awards. “I hope I can be healthy and fit. I hope I can play my best tennis.”
Usyk will fight Tyson Fury on May 18 in Saudi Arabia to attempt to win the fourth world title, the WBC title belt.
Novak Djokovic · Oleksandr Usyk · Olympics
catherine · May 18, 2024 at 10:15 am
Big expectations about this fight, a few hours away in UK. Fury could be overpowered. Not sure what his motivation is – obviously apart from money.
Scoop Malinowski · May 18, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Catherine, it’s a fascinating fight finally, moment of truth is here. Here are two of my analyses this week…
After the weigh in: Tyson Fury’s crazy rant after the weigh in about knocking Usyk spark out reminded of Mike Tyson’s tirade about how he was going to eat Lennox Lewis’s children. Which he never did of course, instead he took a brutal KO beating from Lennox. It’s all a bluff by Fury to mask his insecurity and fears of Usyk who he has ducked four times. Remember this: “The scared dog barks the loudest.” Fury is the fearful one but he has to hide it. Usyk by knockout tomorrow.
https://ringobserver.com/fury-may-know-hes-doomed-vs-usyk/
catherine · May 19, 2024 at 1:38 am
You were right – Did you bet on this ?
‘Usyk poured on the pressure in the ninth and landed an incredible barrage of 14 unanswered blows. Fury reeled under the assault, swaying and stumbling helplessly, his eyes glazed. The referee could have stopped the fight but, with Fury being held up by the sagging ropes, he gave the stricken fighter time to try to stand upright before he began counting to eight. It seemed an exceedingly long count.’ (Observer report)
Fury’s fan base won’t want him to retire but he should.
Scoop Malinowski · May 19, 2024 at 8:49 am
Yes I did bet it )
My quick analysis: Usyk boxed a masterpiece vs the giant. He set the pace and hunted him down, tiring the brilliant but blubbery former great and taking him into deep waters. Usyk patiently executed his strategy and set up the knockout which the big man somehow survived in round 9. Usyk the clear winner and best of this era. It’s the Usyk era and he’s one of the all time greatest heavweight champions, capable of beating anyone from history. The rematch will be easier.