Undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk could not win in the category Athlete of the Year according to the BBC. Boxer claimed the award, along with three other applicants, but in the end the prize went to golfer Francesco Molinari. In 2018, Molinari became the first Italian in history to win the Open Championship, and also won the Ryder Cap as part of the European team.
The best British athlete of the year according to the BBC was the winner of the Tour de France-2018 Geraint Thomas.
At the beginning of the year, Usyk defeated Mairis Briedis in a unifying match, then in the summer he defeated Murat Gassiev in the finale of the World Boxing Super Series.
And in early November, Usyk knocked Tony Bellew out in Manchester and defended his WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF cruiserweight belts. The battle was not entirely successful for Usyk, who at the time of the stoppage was losing on points.
