It seems increasingly likely that Oleksandr Usyk will retire from the professional ranks undefeated, but in the amateur code, protecting an impeccable record is virtually impossible.
The Ukrainian, now in his 13th year as a professional, has already secured his place in the Hall of Fame and established himself as one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. Becoming the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion, Usyk used his sublime skills to take down some of the biggest and most dangerous men of the modern era.
Heading into 2026 – with wins over Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua already on his CV – Usyk now wants to add former WBC champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder to the list of beaten opponents.
As an amateur, Usyk racked up more than 300 victories, including heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics, but also suffered 15 defeats. The last of them took place against Russian Egor Mekhontsev in the semi-final of the 2009 World Championships in Milan, where Usyk lost 14-10.
Mekhontsev, who won light heavyweight gold at London 2012, has never enjoyed the same level of success in the professional ranks. Between 2013 and 2017, he established a record of 13 wins and one draw. Now 41 and making an appearance at the IBA World Championships last week, Mekhontsev insisted he could beat Usyk again even though he hadn’t fought in eight years.
“Yes of course [I would welcome a pro fight]. My old teammates still send me videos from time to time and ask me: “Egor, do you still think you would tear them all up?”
“And I tell them, ‘You know, I still think that.’
“I’m 40, but I still feel that way. I can’t say I would do this or that – in our culture it’s considered inappropriate – 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 fights. His unbeaten streak ended in an eight-round draw against Alexander Johnson in 2016 – the same Johnson who, two years earlier, was stopped in seven rounds by then-rising Artur Beterbiev.
