How the careers of Usyk and Fury evolved: the journey from early bouts to the heavyweight summit

The professional careers of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury followed different trajectories. Usyk began his professional boxing journey in the cruiserweight division and gradually moved up to heavyweight. Fury competed as a heavyweight from the very start, eventually becoming a world champion. Their paths crossed only after both had already secured major titles in their respective divisions.

Usyk made his professional debut in November 2013. By that time, he already possessed extensive amateur experience and an Olympic gold medal from the 2012 London Games. The Ukrainian spent the early years of his professional career in the cruiserweight division, gradually progressing from regional bouts to world title fights.

In 2016, Usyk became a world champion for the first time by winning the WBO cruiserweight title. He made several successful defenses the following year, and in 2018, he faced Murat Gassiev in the final of the World Boxing Super Series. The division's four major championship belts were on the line. Usyk won on points, becoming the undisputed cruiserweight world champion.

After defeating Gassiev, the Ukrainian fought one more bout in that weight class against Tony Bellew. The bout took place in November 2018 and ended with Usyk winning by technical knockout in the eighth round. Following this, the boxer's team began preparations for a move to the heavyweight division—a weight class where larger opponents and new championship challenges awaited him. Usyk’s first heavyweight fight took place in 2019. After several bouts in the new division, he earned the opportunity to face Anthony Joshua. In September 2021, the Ukrainian defeated the Briton by unanimous decision, claiming the WBA, WBO, and IBF championship belts. Thus, Usyk became a world champion in a second weight class. The rematch with Joshua took place a year later; Usyk won on points again and retained his titles. After two victories over Joshua, his next major opponent was Tyson Fury. In May 2024, Usyk defeated Fury by split decision, unifying the four major heavyweight titles. He later faced the Briton again, winning the second bout by unanimous decision. Fury’s journey to championship status began directly in the heavyweight division. The Briton made his professional debut in 2008. He gradually gained experience over the following years, winning the European title in 2014 and continuing his push toward a world title fight. His major breakthrough came in November 2015 when he faced Wladimir Klitschko. The Ukrainian had held the major heavyweight titles for years prior to that encounter. Fury won the fight by unanimous decision, capturing the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO championship belts. For the Briton, this marked his first title victory at such a high level.

Following his victory over Klitschko, Fury’s career was put on hold for an extended period. He vacated his championship titles in 2016 and did not return to the ring until 2018. Having gone several years without a sanctioned professional bout, his comeback marked a distinct new phase in his career.

In June 2018, Fury returned to the ring, launching a series of fights after his hiatus. That same year, he faced Deontay Wilder in a bout for the WBC title. The fight ended in a draw, leading to two subsequent encounters between the heavyweights. Fury won both of the following bouts, claiming the WBC title in his second fight against Wilder.

The period from 2020 to 2024 marked one of the longest championship reigns of Fury's career. He successfully defended his WBC title several times—including in a third bout against Wilder—and continued his career while awaiting a unification fight against the holders of the other championship belts.

By this stage, Usyk and Fury were operating at a comparable level. The Ukrainian had moved up to the heavyweight division after becoming the undisputed champion at cruiserweight, subsequently capturing the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts. Fury, meanwhile, held the WBC title and boasted a victory over Klitschko as well as a trilogy against Wilder. Their paths finally crossed in the ring in May 2024.

Moving between weight classes was a defining feature of Usyk's career. He successfully transitioned from being an Olympic champion and the holder of all major cruiserweight titles to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Fury, for his part, built his entire professional career in the heavyweight division; however, his journey included not only championship victories but also a lengthy hiatus followed by a comeback.

By the time of their first head-to-head bout, both men had already experienced various stages of their professional careers professional path: championship titles, major victories, and bouts against other renowned heavyweights. After facing each other twice, their career paths diverged once more, continuing without any further direct encounters in the ring.

Thus, the stories of Usyk and Fury illustrate two distinct routes to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. The Ukrainian’s journey included Olympic gold, undisputed champion status in the cruiserweight division, and a move up to the heavyweight ranks. Fury built his career entirely within the heavyweight division, winning titles after defeating Klitschko, enduring a lengthy hiatus, and returning to championship form.