OLEKSANDR USYK’S last conqueror has refused to take credit over a freakish win as the heavyweight contender prepares to face Dereck Chisora this weekend.
A win against the British star on Saturday at Wembley Arena will leave the Ukrainian boxer in line for a shot at Anthony Joshua’s WBO title.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion, 33, has shown no signs of vulnerability since he scooped gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
He turned professional with an incredible 335-15 amateur record, with the International Boxing Association [AIBA] listing his last defeat occurred in 2011.
The record states that Usyk suffered a first round knockout defeat at the hands of Siarhei Karneyeu in the final of the Nikolay Manger Memorial Tournament.
However no footage exists of the bout, with Karneyeu’s only televised fights against Usyk coming in his points defeats at the European and World Championships.
Despite it being listed that he blasted away the slick southpaw nine years ago, Karneyeu has bizarrely claimed that he beat Usyk’s namesake – not the revered boxer himself.
In quotes obtained by Sky Sports, Karneyeu was asked about his mysterious win, with an interviewer posing the question: “How many times did you manage to beat Usyk?”
To which the Belarusian said: “One time. I managed to beat Usyk only once. But it was a different Oleksandr Usyk – the champion’s namesake.”
The confused interviewer then asked: “When you beat Usyk, what did you feel?”
Karneyeu replied by saying: “I felt the usual thing. I became the winner, but it was a different Oleksandr. That’s it.”
Usyk has never publicly spoken of the defeat which is in the record books, though he did reportedly message Karneyeu privately about the result.
Speaking on what he told him, Karneyeu added: “Yes, he wrote to me saying that people were writing and ringing him, expressing their regret that he had lost to me.
“And that wasn’t him actually, but his namesake who lost the fight. I beat the wrong Oleksandr.
“I just don’t want any confusion. I don’t want it all to be twisted and people to think that I beat Sasha [short for Oleksandr].”
Chisora has revealed he is targeting a KO victory against Usyk on Halloween, as he believes the judges will be on his opponents side.
The 36-year-old insisted: “I don’t think I will get the victory without a clean knockout because everyone will be on his side.
“For this fight I’m fighting a few people — Usyk, the ref and the judges. So to get a victory I have to knock him out.
“But it motivates me more, people thinking I don’t have a chance in hell.”
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