It is looking increasingly likely that Oleksandr Usyk will retire from the professional ranks undefeated, but in the amateur code, protecting an unblemished record is all but impossible.
Now in his 13th year as a pro, the Ukrainian has already secured his place in the Hall of Fame and established himself as one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. Having become undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, Usyk has used his sublime skillset to unpick some of the biggest and most dangerous men of the modern era.
Heading into 2026 — with victories over Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua already on his résumé — Usyk now wants to add former WBC champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder to the list of beaten opponents.
As an amateur, Usyk amassed more than 300 wins, including heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics, but also suffered 15 defeats. The last of those came against Russia’s Egor Mekhontsev at the semi-final stage of the 2009 World Championships in Milan, where Usyk lost 14-10.
Mekhontsev, who went on to win light-heavyweight gold at London 2012, never found the same level of success in the professional ranks. Between 2013 and 2017 he compiled a record of 13 wins and one draw. Now 41, and making an appearance at last week’s IBA World Championships, Mekhontsev insisted he could beat Usyk again despite not having fought in eight years.
“Yes, of course [I would welcome a pro fight]. My old teammates still send me some videos from time to time and ask, ‘Egor, do you still think you would tear all of them apart?’
“And I tell them, ‘You know, I still think so.’
“I’m 40, but I still feel that way. I can’t go around saying I’d do this or that — in our culture that’s considered improper — but I have a lot of confidence in myself. If anything, anytime, anywhere. I’m always ready.”
Mekhontsev’s professional career consisted largely of four- and eight-round bouts. His unbeaten run ended with an eight-round draw against Alexander Johnson in 2016 — the same Johnson who, two years earlier, had been stopped in seven rounds by a then-rising Artur Beterbiev.
