Former two division world champion Paulie Malignaggi felt WBC, WBO, IBF, WBA cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk was the one boxer who really stuck out and elevated himself in 2018.
Usyk unified the entire cruiserweight division and won twelve round unanimous decisions over unbeaten boxers Murat Gassiev and Mairis Briedis.
He closed out the year with a vicious knockout victory over Tony Bellew.
All three of Usyk's 2018 victories took place on the road.
"I think Oleksandr Usyk made a bigger name for himself and really stuck out. He closed out the World Boxing Super Series in style, beating a very tough Murat Gassiev. And he beat him in a pretty one-sided fight, which I totally didn’t see coming and didn’t expect. And then he went to England and probably took on an easier opponent, but an opponent with a lot of veteran craftiness and cleverness. It was a tricky fight, while it lasted. There were some unsteady moments, trying to figure out the puzzle that was Tony Bellew. But he was actually able to figure it out and get the knockout in front of Bellew’s crowd," Malignaggi said to CBS Sports.
"So I think this year Oleksandr Usyk really made a big step. He was always expected to be a big deal, but he started to make good on that promise."
Now Usyk looks ahead to a potential run in the heavyweight division.
He signed on with promoter Eddie Hearn, which was part of an overall strategy to eventually secure a fight with Hearn's star fighter, WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO world champion Anthony Joshua.
"They talk about him going to the heavyweight division. I’ve seen him in person, he’s not a small guy. He’s about 6’2″ or 6’3″, so maybe he can fill out for the heavyweight division a little bit. He’ll never be a big big heavyweight. But I think he can turn into a decent size heavyweight and compete," Malignaggi said.
"You’ll probably want to match him against some heavyweights who are a little on the smaller side but are still pretty good. Maybe like a Fres Oquendo or Carlos Takam or someone like that. Based on how he looks in those fights, and if he’s able to win, and if he’s able to win looking good or if he struggles, you judge if he’s going to be a heavyweight or if he goes back to cruiserweight."
