Oleksandr Wu Chik was not right, but the former controversial cruiserweight champion nevertheless had an easy night job.
Usyk (17-0, 13 KO) disassembled a late replacement for Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 29 KOs) in front of a packed house at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Prowsk's spectators watched the last seven rounds of heavyweight debut before Witherspoon began to gas.
Of course, Usyk was going to fight former kickboxing star Tyrone Spong, but Spong failed the drug test for the banned substance clomiphene. The sponge was released in the bout and we got a much less interesting matchup, but Usyk finished the job and showed why he is considered one of the best pound forward boxers in the world.
You can see the highlight at the top of the page.
Usyk is a mandatory challenger for WBO for Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 winners, but he doesn't face Ruiz or Joshua next time. The next time Ruiz-Joshua winner wins the IBF Mandatory Challenger Kubrat Pulev, he can also fight for an empty belt.