SAN DIEGO, Calif., October 12, 2019 ? Alexandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) opened the door to the big boys clubhouse Saturday night ? AKA the heavyweight division ? invited himself in and took a seat.
The former unified cruiserweight champion stumbled through a few mishaps including injury and a last-minute opponent change but found his way clear to a seventh-round stoppage victory over American Chazz Witherspoon of New Jersey (38-4, 29 KOs).
?Listen guys, thank you so much,? said Usyk to a crowd full of fans waving Ukrainian flags. ?I am feel, I am very feel, I am very happy.
?I was waiting for this moment. We had some little difficulties because we have to change opponent. I didn?t show to nobody, had some bad fortune to my hand. I prayed to him, ?please help me,? and it looked like he helped me,? said Usyk.
Usyk slow-rolled the first few rounds, moving in to land body shots on the much bigger Witherspoon. Witherspoon offered some minimal offense of his own, nothing that threatened Usyk.
Usyk began picking things up in the third round with two straight left hands, the same punch that decked Usyk?s last opponent, Tony Bellew. Usyk circled Witherspoon, getting into a rhythm like his many dance videos circling the internet. He threw the rising straight left from different angles, trying to catch Witherspoon unaware. The first big punches of the fight landed at the end of the third round.
Usyk kept up a solid but not blistering pace. He began wearing down Witherspoon as much as he was landing harder shots. Give Witherspoon credit, he stayed in with Usyk, and did his best to trade. It was just enough for the referee to let the fight continue.
In both the sixth and seventh rounds, Usyk put Witherspoon against the ropes and delivered solid combination punching to head and body, hurting but not dropping Witherspoon, then backing out before finishing the bigger man off.
