The 30 year-old 2012 Olympic gold medallist claimed the 13th victory of his pro career and was just too good for a faded Marco Huck.
Usyk took control of the fight from off, usuing movement well beyond his size and boxing skills countryman Vasyl Lomachenko would be proud of.
It’s no wonder there’s so much to rave about when it comes to Usyk as the southpaw took round after round from Huck with bamboozling ease.
Huck tried to fight back gallantly at times, but competing in his 46th bout and an old, battered 32 meant the ‘Cap’n’ just couldn’t fend off the stronger, fresher title holder.
The end came in the tenth when Usyk continued to pile on the pressure and Huck visibly tired, leaving referee Robert Byrd with no choice but to save the challenger from taking more punishment.
With no prospects of winning the fight from the 6th onwards, Huck’s corner maybe had a case to pull their man out earlier and potentially save the German for one more run at a title after a well-deserved break.
Calls for Huck to retire are certain to follow the fifth defeat of his career, whilst Usyk moves on to a meeting against the winner of Mairis Briedis v Mike Perez taking place on September 30 in Riga, Latvia.
The semi-final, pencilled in for February, will then be a WBO/WBC unification and see the victor advance to the final with a chance of taking home two more belts and the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
