Usyk vs. Witherspoon Live Results
After a delay due to injury and a sudden switch in opponent, Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) finally makes his heavyweight debut tonight at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, taking on Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KOs).
Usyk was originally scheduled to make his heavyweight debut in May against Carlos Takam, but Usyk was forced out of the bout with an injury. He then was set to fight Tyrone Spong tonight, but Spong failed a drug test and was subsequently arrested after his pet cougar escaped.
After claiming gold at the 2012 Olympics at heavyweight, the undefeated Usyk turned pro the next year, going on to win the WBO cruiserweight title in September 2016. He made two successful defenses before entering the World Boxing Super Series.
In the tournament, Usyk retained the WBO title against Marco Huck, claimed the WBC title in a win over Mairis Briedis and bested Murat Gassiev to become undisputed champion in July 2018 — becoming the first cruiserweight, and the fifth boxer overall to unify all four major alphabet world titles.
Usyk made one defense of the undisputed crown, knocking out Tony Bellew in his November retirement bout, before vacating the titles in March to move up to heavyweight.
The second cousin to former two-time heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon, Chazz Witherspoon will come in on an eight-fight win streak, with seven of those fights ending in KO/TKO. Witherspoon, however, did not compete in any bouts during 2013 or 2017. He last competed in March, finishing Santander Silgado.
The undercard will be headlined by unbeaten Dmitry Bivol making his sixth defense of the WBA (Super) light heavyweight title, as he faces Lenin Castillo.
FIGHT SPORTS brings you live coverage of Usyk vs. Witherspoon!
Oleksandr Usyk def. Chazz Witherspoon via TKO (corner retirement) (Rd. 7, 3:00)
WBA (Super) light heavyweight championship: (c.) Dmitry Bivol def. Lenin Castillo via unanimous decision (120-107, 119-108, 119-108)
Otha Jones II def. Eric Manrqiuez via majority decision (38-38, 40-36, 39-37)
WBA/WBC female super lightweight championship: (c.) Jessica McCaskill def. Erica Farias via majority decision (94-94, 97-91, 96-92)