Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to fight Thabiso Mchunu at the Forum on Dec. 17

As one legend strides to retirement, another talented fighter will take his first U.S. punch at chasing such glory.

Promoters announced Wednesday that World Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine has been added to Bernard Hopkins’ Dec. 17 farewell bout at the Forum.

Usyk is managed by Egis Klimas, who also guides unbeaten light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev and super-featherweight Vasyl Lomachenko’s manager, and is seen as a special talent who is similar to unbeaten middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, promoter Tom Loeffler said.

“It’s hard to compare anyone to Gennady, but with an Olympic gold medal, and how he’s done as a pro … when you can do that in 10 fights ... there’s something very special about his style in the ring and his character and personality outside the ring,” Loeffler said. “The cruiserweight division hasn’t received the attention. I think the American fans will really take to him, similarly as they’ve done with ‘GGG.’”

Usyk (10-0, nine knockouts) will make his first title defense against South Africa’s Thabiso Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs).

The HBO-televised card also includes a featherweight fight between South El Monte’s Joseph Diaz Jr. and Horacio Garcia, with 51-year-old former long-reigning middleweight champion Hopkins meeting New York’s Joseph Smith Jr.

Usyk, who’s close friends with fellow 2012 gold medalist Lomachenko, is training in Oxnard and learning English.