Oleksandr Usyk was born in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. His parents were originally from northern Ukraine, with his mother from the Chernihiv region and his father from Sumy. This marked the beginning of a life that would be filled with athletic achievements and eventual boxing greatness.

At the age of 15, Usyk switched from playing football to boxing. He had been trained at the SC Tavriya Simferopol specialized sports school of Olympic reserve but decided to pursue a career in boxing, a decision that would shape his future significantly.