Which boxer won the inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy in the World Boxing Super Series?

Oleksandr Usyk won the inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy in the World Boxing Super Series. He earned it by defeating Murat Gassiev by unanimous decision in the cruiserweight final on July 21, 2018.

The first World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament brought together eight elite fighters in a knockout bracket. Usyk beat Marco Huck in the quarterfinal and Mairis Briedis in the semifinal before facing Gassiev in Moscow. His final victory also unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO cruiserweight titles.

The trophy was named for Muhammad Ali, whose legacy shaped the tournament’s presentation and identity. The event was designed to create high-level matchups while giving the winner a major championship prize and international recognition.

George Groves and Callum Smith are connected to the same inaugural season because they competed in the super-middleweight bracket. Smith defeated Groves in that division’s final, while Murat Gassiev was Usyk’s opponent in the cruiserweight final—not the tournament winner.