Oleksandr Usyk makes his heavyweight debut in Chicago on Saturday night.
The Ukranian, one of the most revered fighters on the planet, was last in action in November when he beat Briton’s Tony Bellew by KO at the Manchester Arena.
He retained his cruiserweight titles with that victory but now he is set for a new challenge.
Usyk now makes the leap up to the heavyweight division and was set to face undefeated Tyrone pong.
But that fight was called off after the Surinamese-Dutchman returned adverse drugs tests and Usyk will instead take on 38-year-old American Chazz Witherspoon.
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Usyk vs Witherspoon: Date and start time
The fight is set for Saturday, October 12 and is being held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
The main event ring walks should start at around 4am on Sunday UK time.
Usyk vs Witherspoon: TV channel and live stream
The fight will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action with their coverage starting at 2am.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
If not, you can purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £8.99.
Oleksandr Usyk ready to defy critics, including Tyson Fury, ahead of heavyweight debut
Usyk vs Witherspoon: Undercard
- Dmitry Bivol vs Lenin Castillo (light heavyweight)
- Jessica McCaskill vs Eric Anabella Farias (super lightweight)
- Charles Conwell vs Patrick Day (super welterweight)
- Josh Hernandez vs Giovanni Mioletti (super featherweight)
- Anthony Sims Jr vs Morgan Fitch (super middleweight)
- TJ Doheny vs Jesus Martinez (super bantamweight)
- Otha Jones III vs Eric Manriquez (super featherweight)
- Movladdin Biyarslanov vs Tyrome Jones (super lightweight)
- Reshat mati vs Norfleet Stitts (super welterweight)
- Jenna Johlin Thompson vs Summer Lynn (welterweight)
Usyk vs Witherspoon: What has been said?
Oleksandr Usyk: “There have been no problems in order to move to the heavyweight division.
“At least to me there have been no problems. I simply moved to the heavyweight division, and that was it. Virtually nothing has changed in my training, we’ve simply started doing even more work. Different, and hard work, which is practising with big guys who pose a great threat.
“I’m really looking forward to boxing on October 12. I very much missed the boxing. I love boxing, and really there is a lot of talk about it, but I’m not paying attention to it. My objective is to do my job in the gym in order to show all the enthusiasts and fans great boxing in the ring.”
Chazz Witherspoon: “Oleksandr is stepping up to heavyweight – and he’s going to find out that it’s a totally different game.
“I’ve won my last eight fights and I really feel that I’ve been waiting in the wings for a huge opportunity like this and I am going to put every ounce of myself into the fight on this massive stage.”
Usyk vs Witherspoon: Tale of the tape
Usyk – Witherspoon
Nationality: Ukrainian – American
Age: 32 – 38
Height: 6ft 3 – 6ft 4
Reach: 78′ – 79′
Stance: Southpaw – Orthodox
Record: 16-0-0 – 38-3-0
KOs: 12 – 29
Rounds: 125 – 182
Debut: 9/11/2013 – 12/12/2004
The post Oleksandr Usyk vs Chazz Witherspoon: Where you can watch, UK start time and undercard for heavyweight fight appeared first on Kenya Latest.
