In the hours following his second triumph over the gigantic Tyson Fury, the reigning heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, has become the center of heated debates regarding his place among the greatest heavyweights in history. Opinions, as expected, vary widely: on one hand, some like Carl Frampton even question whether Usyk might be the greatest of all time, while on the other hand, figures like Timothy Bradley don’t even consider the Ukrainian worthy of a spot in the top 10. So, what’s the truth?
Is Usyk Among the Greatest? It Depends…
Let’s be very clear: the only honest and objective answer to the question, “Does Usyk deserve to be included in the top 10 greatest heavyweights of all time?” is “It depends.” There are no predefined or indisputable criteria for ranking fighters from different eras. This means that every expert and fan uses their own logic when creating such lists, often differing from others.
The parameters that can be considered are countless: the length of a world title reign, the quality of opponents defeated, the ability to avenge losses, technical, physical, and psychological abilities, the depth of one’s record, and the epic nature of the fights fought…
Even if all these aspects are taken into account, giving slightly more weight to one factor over another can drastically alter the rankings. Thus, all rankings are valid and respectable, as long as the logic behind them is clearly explained by their compiler.
What Does “Of All Time” Mean? The Dilemma of Starting Points
Anyone attempting to create a cross-generational boxing ranking immediately faces a tough dilemma: from what year should fighters of the distant past begin to be considered? Traditionally, John L. Sullivan is regarded as the first world heavyweight champion (a title granted by “public acclaim” in 1885), and there are esteemed boxing historians who unhesitatingly include his name and those of other pioneers of the Sweet Science, like James J. Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons, in their rankings. However, this approach presents multiple challenges.
Before 1922, the year The Ring magazine was first published, there was no official body to confirm the identity of the world champion or select the most deserving challengers. Moreover, the existence of the “color line,” an unwritten rule that barred Black fighters from competing for the title, makes it impossible to fairly classify the best fighters of that era.
Additionally, boxing in its early days was vastly different from what it is today: from thin gloves to highly permissive officiating, the variable number of rounds (sometimes unlimited), the ability to attack an opponent as soon as they got back on their feet, and the allowance for prolonged clinching. Too many factors were distinct.
To address these issues—compounded by the lack of sufficient high-quality footage necessary for proper evaluation—the writer of this article prefers to base rankings starting from the 1930s. This choice is not intended to diminish the greatness of earlier fighters like Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey.
Depth of Record and Reign Duration of Oleksandr Usyk
One of the main criticisms leveled at Usyk by his detractors is the limited number of professional fights he has had—just 23 to date. Personally, I believe that placing significant weight on the sheer quantity of bouts would make rankings far less interesting, inevitably pushing almost any modern-era boxer lower down the list.
It cannot be ignored that the dynamics of boxing have changed profoundly in recent decades, for more than justified reasons such as safeguarding health. Nowadays, professional boxers fight far less frequently than in the past.
It makes far more sense, then, to focus on title fights: the so-called “reign duration” tells us how long a boxer managed to stay at the absolute top before being dethroned. Determining this number in Usyk’s case, however, is no straightforward task for at least two reasons.
The first is the duality of Usyk’s reign: first as a cruiserweight king, then as a heavyweight champion. The cruiserweight division, with its current 200-pound limit, is a relatively recent addition. Heavyweight champions of the past faced challengers ranging from roughly 200 pounds to much heavier opponents. Due to these regulatory changes, Usyk had to first conquer the former and then the latter.
To compare him to his predecessors while ignoring his cruiserweight successes would be unjust. Consider that Muhammad Ali, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight of all time, debuted as a professional weighing just 191 pounds. If Ali had been born today, he would almost certainly have started his career as a cruiserweight, just as Usyk did.
Another issue is the fragmentation of world titles. If we count all of Usyk’s victories with a world title on the line, the total reaches 12—higher than that of several “all-time greats” (for example, Rocky Marciano had only seven). However, it’s unfair to assign the same value to the “single belt” of the past and today’s fragmented titles, which do not certify supremacy over other belt holders.
The Qualities of Oleksandr Usyk
Comparing the technical and physical qualities of boxers from different eras is a complex exercise that must be approached with caution. If it were easy to accurately evaluate skill and ability by watching footage of fighters, every expert would be rich from betting—something that clearly isn’t happening. Often, those who seem formidable “at a glance” may have significant flaws, while those who appear less impressive can surprise us. This unpredictability is a hallmark of the sport.
With the understanding that my judgment is subjective and open to debate, I consider Oleksandr Usyk’s technical, physical, and mental attributes to be of the highest level, fully comparable to those of the greatest heavyweights in history. Among these, two stand out in particular: his footwork and aerobic endurance.
Usyk’s footwork is an extremely rare commodity in the heavyweight division. While the 38-year-old Ukrainian, now carrying extra pounds, no longer darts around the ring with the same agility he displayed when neutralizing Murat Gassiev in Russia, he still delivers remarkable footwork that allows him to consistently find the perfect position to hit without getting hit.
Usyk’s stamina is equally legendary. As a cruiserweight, he was capable of throwing over 900 punches in a single fight—a staggering figure for that weight class and level of competition. While his work rate has declined in the heavyweight division, Usyk has retained his innate ability to “shift gears” when necessary: just as his opponent begins to think they’re holding their own, he accelerates and leaves them stunned.
Usyk’s other standout qualities include a granite chin (never knocked down as a professional despite taking some devastating punches), mental toughness, defense, and tactical intelligence. The only two areas where he falls short compared to some of his illustrious predecessors are one-punch knockout power and punch variety.
Usyk may not possess the one-punch power of Tyson, Foreman, or Marciano, but those who label his punches as harmless are mistaken. Even while winning mostly on points in recent years, the Ukrainian has demonstrated in every fight that he commands respect: he wobbled Chisora and Joshua, knocked out Dubois, and came close to stopping Fury. His power is comparable to that of Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes—fighters who didn’t rely on single-punch knockouts but could still get the job done when necessary.
Though he primarily employs straight punches, with relatively sporadic use of hooks and almost no uppercuts, Usyk compensates for the apparent limitations of his offensive arsenal by continuously varying the trajectories, speeds, and angles of his punches. When Dubois knelt, ready to quit during their match, it wasn’t due to a single devastating punch but rather the cumulative effect of a barrage of blows whose timing and impact he couldn’t predict.
Usyk’s Opponents and the “Epicness” Factor
How strong and challenging were Oleksandr Usyk’s opponents during his triumphant rise to glory? Here too, subjective and unverifiable opinions come into play. Personally, I believe that two of the fighters defeated by the Ukrainian would have been competitive at the highest levels in any era: Mairis Briedis and Tyson Fury.
Briedis showcased lightning-fast hand speed, cobra-like reflexes, incredible timing, and a granite chin throughout his career. Even at 39 years old, he absorbed violent full-power shots from the heavy-handed Jai Opetaia without flinching.
Fury, while not graceful or aesthetically pleasing, combines his colossal frame, immense reach, surprising upper-body flexibility, and nimble footwork (astonishing for someone his size). These attributes would have posed problems for many great champions. While he might not have beaten them, he certainly would have given them a tough challenge.
Three other Usyk opponents, though more vulnerable and with pronounced weaknesses in specific areas, would still have been dangerous wildcards in any era due to their power: Murat Gassiev, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois.
Lastly, Usyk’s victory over Michael Hunter shouldn’t be overlooked. Hunter’s career has been mishandled, likely due to missteps by the fighter himself, but his TKO win over the feared Martin Bakole and his draw against Alexander Povetkin demonstrated his top-tier technical skills.
To the quality of Usyk’s opponents, we must also add a bonus for an aspect that has added an epic dimension to his career: many of his toughest fights were held abroad, in hostile arenas packed with rival supporters. On no fewer than ten occasions, the Ukrainian fought in his opponent’s home country, an element that makes the career of the Simferopol native unique among the all-time greats.
Usyk’s Place in the Rankings
So, where does Oleksandr Usyk rank among the greatest heavyweights of all time? You can find my current rankings by clicking here: The Top 10 Heavyweights of All Time.
In my opinion, a definitive answer to this question will only be possible once Usyk hangs up his gloves. Nevertheless, we can still have fun offering a “provisional” assessment based on what we’ve seen so far.
In my view, Usyk has already achieved enough to surpass fighters like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston. However, he hasn’t reigned long enough or accomplished sufficiently extraordinary feats to challenge the positions of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes.
In my personal ranking, Usyk is currently vying with Lennox Lewis for the sixth spot.
If you disagree or think I’ve written heresies, feel free to let me know in the comments. I don’t claim to have revealed an undeniable truth, but at least I can rest assured that I’ve thoroughly and thoughtfully explained my perspective.