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I defeated Usyk and Wilder in the space of a few days and now I am a reality television star and police officer
It takes a special fighter to beat Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk in the space of a few days, but that’s what happened at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Today, Usyk is the unified heavyweight champion and arguably the best fighter in the sport after an incredible run that has saw reign at the top of both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Along the way, Usyk has beaten some of boxing’s biggest names including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua , and he returns to action on May 23 when he faces Rico Verhoeven in Egypt , live only on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier .
DAZN FACE OFF: Wardley vs. Dubois
Watch explosive encounter here
Wilder’s lengthy run as WBC world champion saw him develop a reputation as one of boxing’s most destructive punchers as he bludgeoned his way to the business end of the division with some highlight reel knockouts.
His trilogy with Tyson Fury went 0-2-1, but the drama involved in all three fights ensured that Wilder played his part in one of boxing’s most thrilling rivalries.
From Olympic silver to reality TV
Clemente Russo knows both men well after outpointing each man on his way to a silver medal at the Olympic Games in China almost two decades ago.
The Italian star took a 7-4 verdict over Usyk in the last eight before registering a 7-1 score against Wilder in the semi-finals.
Four years later in London, Usyk would claim revenge as he defeated Russo 14-11 in the final to take the Olympic gold medal before embarking on a professional career.
Russo would continue to box until 2021, but he was unable to replicate the success that he achieved earlier in his amateur career when he was a two-time world amateur champion.
Back home in Italy, Russo has worked with his country’s police force, and he has also participated in several reality TV shows alongside his wife.
A feat Fury and Joshua cannot match
Russo’s decision to never fight for pay was largely due to the fact that he had a successful police career that paid him well and allowed him all the time he required to cement his amateur legacy as one of his country’s finest fighters.
Roberto Cammarelle was a successful super-heavyweight at the same time as Russo, and he also resisted the lure of the professional game for the same reasons as Russo.
Russo, now 43, was courted by several promoters when competing as an amateur and that included an offer from Don King in 2009 .
Britain’s Danny Price, a former amateur rival of Tony Bellew, was beaten by Russo at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago and he is unsure whether his former foe would’ve made a good professional.
"He was never technically great or good to watch, he's just effective at what he does," said Price when speaking in 2020.
"I sat around with James DeGale, Stephen Smith and Frankie Gavin and we'd say: 'How does this guy get wins?'
"He'd get so far before being found out, because he doesn't hit too hard. But it's unfair to say because a lot of good amateurs don't make it as a pro. They are totally different games so it depends how he would have adapted. Russo had Olympic pedigree."
Despite never turning professional, Russo, can always say he was able to do what no profressional fighter has ever done and that's get past two of the modern era’s most dominant heavyweight champions.
Watch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with the Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
