LONDON – The great Lennox Lewis was in London today ahead of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
The former champion was full of praise for the current king.
”Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter, he's got a great boxing IQ and he deserves [to be] where he's at right now,” Lewis told BoxingScene and other reporters.
In just 23 professional fights in which no one has found a way to beat the Ukrainian, Usyk has crafted a solid argument that he’s one of the very best in history. Lewis in agreement.
“He's definitely in the same group as Muhammad Ali, me, all the great fighters,” he said.
If Usyk wins this weekend, as Lewis expects, the Hall of Famer would like to see the Ukrainian follow his lead and retire at the top.
“He has nothing left to prove, he could have walked away before this fight,” Lewis said. “In boxing Daniel Dubois again, he's taking a big risk, but if he feels he can come through it, the risk is good, because the title he can claim is big.”
Usyk’s desire, however, is to have one final fight after Saturday before riding off into the sunset after a decorated career.
“He may be pushing it, but to fight on you've got to have a get out plan,” said Lewis, “and his get out plan is one more fight.”
Lewis knows a thing or two about leaders from cruiserweight coming up to heavyweight; one of his greatest rivals, Evander Holyfield, was the first to successfully make the leap.
“The smaller fighters are usually more technically sound,” he said. “Evander Holyfield was, as a heavyweight, he was good… He was the best guy coming out of America and for me to go and beat him, I had to study him, and go, ‘Okay I know he throws body punches. He does this, he does that and I have to say to myself: I have win the first and last; I have to throw more punches than him; I have to win as many rounds a possible.’”
Lewis, still full of fighting spirit at 59 years old, would also fancy his chances against Usyk.
“That's why I wish I was still fighting,” he said. “That would be my challenge to go after Usyk and beat him. I've watched all of his fights and I know how I would beat him. I would do it in the way I am telling Daniel to do it. Push him up against the ropes with the jab and then take advantage of him.”
