‘I didn’t lose’ – Oleskandr Usyk recalls last career defeat to Olympic gold medallist
Oleksandr Usyk was left furious after losing to Russian rival Egor Mekhontsev in 2009.
The last time Usyk was defeated in a boxing ring came at the 2009 Amateur Boxing World Championships, when he took on Russian star Mekhontsev.
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It was a semi-final which resulted in a shock defeat for the Ukrainian, but he has recalled how he moved on from the result just days afterwards.
"Yeah I remember," Usyk told . "I was furious because in my opinion I didn't lose.
"The judges helped my rival in my opinion. But two judges after the fight I prayed after I had rested.
"I said 'thank you, yes I lost but you gave me the opportunity, I will take it thank you so much.'
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"It was 2009, it was a world champion [Mekhontsev] in Milan. I remember all of my losses and I remember all of my wins."
The event in Italy saw Usyk beaten across the distance, with Mekhontsev inflicting damage to the body of his rival.
But 'The Cat' and his team believed they had done enough to pick up the win on the night, but were denied on the judges' scorecards who sent his opponent through to the final.
It was the southpaw who would progress however, as he went on to pick up the gold medal at the tournament beating Usyk's former conqueror Clemente Russo in the final.
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Mekhontsev was a decorated amateur, and he went on to win a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the light-heavyweight category.
As for Usyk, it is his last competitive defeat in the boxing ring, and he has gone on to remain undefeated 15 years on.
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The amateur champion also won a gold medal at the same Olympics, in the heavyweight category beating Russo in the final.
He went on to turn professional and have huge success where he has yet to be beaten in the elite level ranks.
Usyk became undisputed cruiserweight world champion in 2018 beating Murat Gassiev to claim all four belts.
He then graduated to the heavyweight division, overcoming size concerns to beat the likes of Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora en route to an undisputed title shot.
There he met Tyson Fury for all the marbles and delivered again in May, outpointing the 'Gypsy King' to make history and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
It has seen him now considered as one of the greatest fighters of all-time in the history of the division and his achievements aren't over yet.
He will rematch Fury in a lucrative bout on December 21, and his undefeated record could well remain in tact if he beats the former WBC champion for a second time.
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