WBO Championship Committee Resolution Super Champion- Jr. Heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The present ruling arises upon the historical professional achievements of reigning WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Oleksandr Usyk, on becoming the first Undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF Jr. Heavyweight Champion of the World after successfully defeating former Unified WBA/IBF Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Murat Gassiev by way of a Unanimous Decision (UD) and consequently, winning the World Boxing Series Tournament (WBSS), held at the Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia on Saturday, July 21st 2018.

This Committee has also considered Mr. Usyk’s outstanding amateur background, his professional perfect record as a WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion and other substantial criteria met pursuant to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. Therefore, in light of the foregoing, and in accordance with our regulations specifically, the Super Champion status recognition provision, its applicability, and enforcement, and having been fully advised in the premises, it is hereby determined:   

WHEREAS, in 2008, Mr. Oleksandr Usyk won a Gold medal for Ukraine in the Light Heavyweight Division at the European Amateur Boxing Championships held in Liverpool, England; and,

WHEREAS, also in 2008, Mr. Usyk won a Silver medal for Ukraine in the Heavyweight Division at the World Cup held in Moscow, Russia; and,

WHEREAS, in 2009, Mr. Usyk won a Bronze medal for Ukraine in the Heavyweight division at the World Amateur Championships held in Milan, Italy; and,

WHEREAS, in 2011, Mr. Usyk won a Gold medal for Ukraine in the Heavyweight division at the World Amateur Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan; and,

WHEREAS, 2012, Mr. Usyk won a Gold medal for Ukraine in the Heavyweight division at the Summer Olympic Games held in London, United Kingdom; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. Usyk’s amateur record is an outstanding one consisting of 335 wins with only 15 losses; and,    

WHEREAS, Saturday, November 9th 2013, Mr. Usyk turned professional and debuted against then contender Mr. Felipe Romero in a six round Jr. Heavyweight contest held at the Sport Palace, Kiev, Ukraine. Mr. Usyk successfully defeated Mr. Romero by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round five (5); and,

WHEREAS, on Saturday, December 14th 2013, Mr. Usyk successfully defeated then contender Mr. Epifanio Mendoza by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round four (4); bout held at the Ice Palace “Terminal”, Brovari, Ukraine; and,  

WHEREAS, on Saturday, April 26th 2014, Mr. Usyk defeated then contender Mr. Ben Nsafoah by way of Knockout (KO) in round three (3); bout held at the Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; and,

WHEREAS, on May 31st 2014, Mr. Usyk won his fourth professional bout defeating then contender Mr. Cesar David Crenz by way of Knockout (KO) in round four (4); bout held at the Sport Palace, Odessa, Ukraine; and,

WHEREAS, on October 4th 2014, in just his fifth (5) professional fight, Mr. Usyk won the Interim WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight Title defeating then contender Mr. Daniel Bruwer by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round seven (7); bout held at the Arena Lviv Stadium, Lviv, Ukraine; and,

WHEREAS, on December 13th 2014, Mr. Usyk defended successfully his WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight Title against then contender Mr. Danie Venter by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round nine (9); bout held at the Sport Palace, Kiev, Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, on April 18th 2015, Mr. Usyk made his second successful defense of his WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight Championship against then contender Mr. Andrei Kniazev winning by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round eight (8); bout held at the Sport Palace, Kiev, Ukraine; and,

WHEREAS, on August 29th 2015, Mr. Usyk continued his winning track record as a WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight Champion by defeating then contender Mr. Johnny Muller by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round three (3); bout held at the Sport Palace, Kiev, Ukraine; and,

WHEREAS, on December 12th 2015, Mr. Usyk made his fourth consecutive successful WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title defense against then contender Mr. Pedro Julio Rodriguez, winning by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round seven (7); bout held at the Sport Palace, Kiev, Ukraine; and,

WHEREAS, on September 17th 2016, Mr. Usyk won the WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title in just his tenth (10) professional fight, winning against then-undefeated (26-0-0) and former WBO Inter-Continental and WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Mr. Krzysztof Glowacki by way of Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Ergo Arena, Plac Dwóch Miast 1, 80-344 Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland; and,

WHEREAS, on December 17th 2016, Mr. Usyk made his first WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title defense against then contender Mr. Thabiso Mchunu, winning by way of Knockout (KO) in round nine (9); bout held at the Forum, Inglewood, California; and,

WHEREAS, on April 8th 2017, Mr. Usyk again excelled on his second WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title defense against then contender Mr. Michael Hunter winning by way of Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States of America; and,

WHEREAS, on September 9th 2017, Mr. Usyk defeated former WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion Marco Huck in just his third WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title defense by way of Technical Knockout (TKO) in round ten (10); bout held at the Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany; and,   

WHEREAS, on January 27th 2018, Mr. Usyk unified the WBO/WBC Jr. Heavyweight Championship Titles upon defeating former WBC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mairis Briedis, by way of Majority Decision (MD); bout held at the Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia, as part of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Jr. Heavyweight Semifinals and defending successfully his WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship for a fourth (4) consecutive occasion; and,

WHEREAS, on July 21st 2018, Mr. Usyk made history becoming the first ever Undisputed Jr. Heavyweight Champion of the world, winning all four titles of the major sanctioning bodies (WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF) by defeating former Unified Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Murat Gassiev by way of Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia; and,

WHEREAS, on July 21st 2018, Usyk made history becoming the first ever Undisputed Jr. Heavyweight Champion of the world, winning all four titles of the major sanctioning bodies (WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF) by defeating former Unified Jr. Heavyweight Champion Murat Gassiev by way of unanimous decision; bout held at the Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia; and,  

WHEREAS, the WBO Championship Committee has full authority as per our WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests to resolve any and all matters with the following being within our powers and discretion, and shall be interpreted to include any or all powers necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purpose, policies and the intent of these rules; and,

WHEREAS, Section 14 of the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests provides in relevant:

(A) It is the policy of the World Boxing Organization to encourage its Champions to pursue recognized status as Undisputed World Champions and unify the Championships of the four major world sanctioning organizations (the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF). A World Champion who has achieved preeminent status may require and be entitled to additional scheduling flexibility to achieve his place in boxing history and for the good of the sport. A boxer may be considered for designation of Super Champion status when he meets the following criteria:

(2) As a WBO Champion,

  (B) In the event of less than ten (10) successful defenses has defended his title against opponents of high recognition and high skills; and,

  (C) Has substantially met the other standards set forth herein.

     (3) The boxer’s amateur history will be considered; and,

     (4) The quality of prospective Super Champion’s record including the quality of his opponents and their records will be considered; and

      (5) Additionally, the following factors will be considered in determining Super Champion designation:

      (B)If the Prospective Super Champion has held more than one (1) Championship of the four major world sanctioning organization; or

      (C) If the prospective Super Champion has unified the Championships or more than one (1) of the four major world sanctioning bodies.  

      (D) The Championship Committee may recommend Super Champion status for the boxer to the Executive Committee if a boxer has substantially complied with the conditions set forth herein. Super Champion status shall be determined by the vote of the Executive Committee.

WHEREAS, the WBO Championship Committee having examined Oleksandr Usyk’s exceptional amateur record, his professional record and accomplishments, having reviewed our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests specifically, the Super Champion status recognition provision, its applicability, and enforcement in this matter, and;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the WBO Championship Committee pursuant to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests rules the following:

  1. Oleksandr Usyk won his first WBO Jr. Heavyweight Championship Title in just his ninth (9) professional fight defeating the highly skilled and competitive former WBO Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Krzysztof Glowacki by way of Unanimous Decision (UD). Five (5) of his WBO Jr. Heavyweight Title defenses came against former world champions such as Mr. Marco Huck, Mr. Mairis Briedis, and Mr. Murat Gassiev.
  2. This Committee also considered Mr. Usyk’s extraordinary amateur career winning a Gold medal at the Light Heavyweight Division and Silver, and Bronze medals respectively, in the Heavyweight division in numerous amateur tournaments. In 2012, Mr. Usyk won a Gold medal in the Heavyweight division at the Summer Olympic Games held in London, United Kingdom.
  3. Mr. Usyk’s professional record is a perfect one consisting of fifteen (15) wins, zero (0) losses with no draws, and eleven (11) of said wins by way of Knockout (KO). Furthermore, we have considered the professional records of all of his opponents, which totalize three hundred twenty-five (325) wins, sixty-two losses (62) with only eight (8) draws.
  4. On January 27th 2018, Mr. Usyk unified the WBO and WBC Jr. Heavyweight Championship Titles by defeating former WBC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Mairis Briedis by way of Majority Decision (DC), bout held at the Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia, as part of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Jr. Heavyweight semifinals.
  5. On July 21st 2018, Mr. Usyk made history as he achieved status as the first ever Undisputed Jr. Heavyweight of the world winning all four titles of the major sanctioning organizations (WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF) by defeating former WBA/IBF Unified Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mr. Murat Gassiev by way of Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia.
  6. The foregoing professional achievements of Mr. Usyk substantially meet the criteria set forth in our regulations in order to issue the designation of WBO Super Champion Status.  

In light of the aforementioned accomplishments, and having this Committee any or all powers necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies, and intent of these rules, determines the following:

a) This Committee hereby recommends to the WBO Executive Committee granting Mr. Oleksandr Usyk designation of WBO Super Champion status.     

Dated in San Juan, Puerto Rico on this 24th day of July 2018.

WBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

By: Luis Batista Salas, Esq.

Chairman

Championship Committee