Usyk Blasts Amateur Boxing; Demands Major Changes – ‘The System Is Rotten’

Oleksandr Usyk has called for changes to the amateur boxing system, as the sport could lose its place at the Olympics. 

Usyk knows the importance of the Olympics, having won gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games. He then turned professional a year later and went on to make history. The Ukrainian became undisputed at cruiserweight and then heavyweight, most recently by beating Tyson Fury.

Now, he was on hand to visit Paris for the 2024 games as he watched Ukraine compete. Boxing has been a part of the Olympics since 1904. However, there are doubts about whether it will remain. The International Olympic Committee is unhappy with the standards of governance in amateur boxing, forcing Usyk to respond. 

Usyk Responds

“For many years, there has been a desire to change the boxing system, which is rotten on an international level. So, we just need to work. No promises need to be made; we need to act. When you do this, people see the work done and come to you, asking to collaborate. But I think boxing will be in the Olympic Games. We are at war. But our athletes still came. They are fighting,” Usyk said 

This raises major worries for the next generation of talent. Amateur boxing is an avenue for developing talent and allowing young boxers to get the necessary experience before turning professional. There are too many cases when boxers turn professional too quickly, only to get found out at the elite level. Turning professional also requires a lot of monetary sacrifice. Those opportunities may not be there for everyone in a sport where time is of the essence.

Amateur boxing also allows promoters to scout the next generation of talent and develop them. It allows boxers to build a following. Recent boxers such as Anthony Joshua, Usyk, and Shakur Stevenson have shown this, and all of them made an impression at the Olympic Games. The rise of Saudi Arabia in boxing has also made the sport more cutthroat, with the biggest fights happening in the Kingdom.

Olympic Controversy

If the sport is damaged at grassroots levels, opportunities for the next generation may be limited. But the current scoring system shows it is not up to scratch. Rosie Eccles from Team GB has been eliminated from the games after coming out second best in a controversial split decision to Aneta Rygielska. Meanwhile, super-heavyweight Delicious Orie was also aggrieved after losing to Davit Chaloyan in a split decision. 

“I was fairly surprised at the result, I feel like I did just enough to edge it. I should’ve done more to be honest, not just to edge it, I should’ve done more. It wasn’t my day today and unfortunately this was the day where it really mattered. I’m just going to have to take it. I’ve been hit, I’ve been hurt, I’ve been dropped in my sparring, I’ve been really wounded as an athlete but this is the worst… this is the worst thing I’ve had to go through. I think he landed a few more shots that were just eye-catching. I noticed them, the whole crowd noticed them and the judges noticed them,” Orie stated 

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