The Reality is that Oleksandr Usyk has more work to do before he can join the Super Greats.

Held in very, very high esteem, never once beaten as a professional, several hall of famers beaten, albeit late in their careers, under his belt, and universally beloved the world over. Unbeaten and just perhaps, ....unbeatable? Such a legacy is the story of just two heavyweight champions in the 306 year history of the Modern age of the world heavyweight boxing title. One parallel that is not shared by Brockton, Massachusetts marvel Rocky Marciano and today's phenomenon, Oleksandr Usyk, is this: When Marciano walked away from the sport 70 years ago, there was nobody left to fight. Marciano had fought and defeated all those who might have had a chance ...Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rex Layne, Roland LaStrza, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Harry Matthews, Don Cockell and Archie Moore who had ruined title shots for Nino Valdez, Bob Baker and Harold Johnson on his way to Marciano. The next tsunami of top talent, comprised of Lightning fast Floyd Patterson, Destroyer Charles Sonny Liston, Cleveland Big Cat Williams, Boxing Scientist Zora Folly, Right Handed wrecker Ingemar Johansson and Marvelous Boxer-Puncher Eddie Machen were all years away from taking their places in the top 10 rankings; except for Patterson, who, like Moses Itauma today, came up young to eventually replace Marciano and the old guard. But without any doubt, when Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on April 27, 1956, his work had been completed, and no highly deserved contender who had earned his shot and presented any doubt as to whether Marciano could beat him was left on the scene. Today, the world heavyweight champion, who also holds all of the sanctioning body belts, coincidentally; is blessed to still have several challengers whose shot at the title is well earned and becoming overdue. Oleksandr Usyk, is most certainly a truly great champion, though he simply is not quite up into the ATG territory where many, more casual fans have mistakenly caste him; due to his bones having been made against only two career-enders and the hot/cold Daniel Dubois. But if Usyk is driven to make a stronger case for his legacy being that of a true ATG; Parker, Kabayel and Itauma are all there to help him do it. Gene Tunney, Marciano and Lennox Lewis; the only three to ever abandon the title and never come back; NEVER walked away with that much talent left holding the bag. An authentic GOAT Candidate can't do that. The competition for GOAT consideration is far too strong to get away with that, especially after having engaged in just 20 some-odd professional fights! So here's hoping that Usyk stays put for just a little while more, and avoids any more rematches or insignificant challenges.

Comments (20)

Usyk himself seems like a totally straight shooter and a completely honorable man, and he's employed a team of experts to sort the contracts and move him properly; and they've performed their job well, making him one of the highest paid athletes in any sport that you need arms to play. They've been brilliant in their adherence to the Floyd Mayweather playbook; knocking off other stars at the twilight of their skills, in their last couple of fights, and taking their titles. And if they want Moses Itauma next; it means they've read the WHOLE playbook, snagging a future star just before he gets a chance to fully develop, ala Mayweather - Canelo. Hey, it's their Job to navigate. That's what Usyk pays them for. His job is simply to keep being brilliant.

9mo ago

HandsofIron

:haha::lol1: these guys identify as Ukraine which happens to be getting mopped on the battlefield by Russia O I thought they were Russian. I was trying to come up with some kind of Ali, feel good, story line for Usyk to be a peacemaker over there. Oh well... But uhh it looks like Usyk's going to miss out on the Jake Paul sweepstakes, he's fighting Tank.

9mo ago

pollywog

usyk beats the crap out of your beloved joseph parker. Usyk beat the crap out of your brit frauds, twice!. He's yet to face the Mighty Oilskin Parker.

9mo ago

gauze

Whyte just got splattered in the first round, Joshua in the 5th by a guy who himself got splattered by the Champ in the 5th...them's the facts. Do try to keep up. Parker is elite right now and worthy of a title shot. There's another fact you can take to the bank. But here's an opinion; Parker would end the myth of Joshua and Dubois and splatter them too. As for Whyte and Joyce...lol yes, lol at white and joyce. these are guys that parker lost to. one of them even stopped him. i didn't put "UK dossers" in quotes because i think those guys are good. i put it in quotes because british slang is for qu.e.ers. usyk beats the crap out of your beloved joseph parker.

9mo ago

pollywog

Ever considered the possibility that Usyk took away the confidence of AJ and Fury after them each getting humiliated twice ? Ever considered that they, along with Dubois, were hype flavoured English sausages Usyk was fortunate to get served up on a Saudi platter ?

9mo ago

Willow_The_Wisp

Ever considered the possibility that Usyk took away the confidence of AJ and Fury after them each getting humiliated twice ? No. Not really. Every fighter has a start, a middle and an end. The signs of the end were in plain sight for all three of the 2015 - 2020 champs, as nature takes it's course. But I hear what you're saying.

9mo ago

Haka

Oh, they were of course. I'm not saying they weren't, nor could anyone argue that Usyk is Absolutely the best of this generation based on those historic wins. But, what I AM saying, is that since then, and very quickly, Fury has called it a day and Joshua looked just awful in his last fight, and both men were at the very end of their respective careers in boxing when Usyk came around. That's all. Remember that age and it's relationship to career status varies among individuals. Joshua in particular, is shot. Fury was, and quite naturally; largely ruined by his wars with Wilder. They both hastened their demise in their trilogy, as bodies can take only so much. It is certainly unfair, but future observers; likely just as critical as today's "most people", will, and perhaps rightly, seize on that as a means of denigrating (or tempering the value) of Usyk's body of work; calling him a late arriver to an era that was nearly played out.....UNLESS he can add a few younger "late era/early next era" names to his slightly light resume. For one of the fighters with the fewest number of fights among ATG's, it shouldn't be too big an ask. Particularly since Kabayel, Parker and young Moses Itauma are all in better form today than Tyson and A.J. have been for a while. That's fair, I should think. I not a critic of IBHOF shoe-in Usyk. If you have worthy challengers queued up and are coming off one of your best career performances, then leave no doubt! Have that 25th and 26th fight. The 27th would seal the deal for any critical S.O.B. â€‹ Ever considered the possibility that Usyk took away the confidence of AJ and Fury after them each getting humiliated twice ?

9mo ago

Willow_The_Wisp

- - Usyk not only Olympic Gold Heavy, but fought his whole career @200+ and mashed up the bunch. Usyk is a Ukrainian hero not concerned about what a bunch soft addled lads on an American boxing forum think. Not sure that I do either, lol.

9mo ago

QueensburyRules

I think Usyk's accomplishments may not necessarily guarantee him GOAT status at HW, but his accomplishments at HW make him a GOAT CW for sure. No CW will go on to accomplish what Usyk has done. - - Usyk not only Olympic Gold Heavy, but fought his whole career @200+ and mashed up the bunch. Usyk is a Ukrainian hero not concerned about what a bunch soft addled lads on an American boxing forum think.

9mo ago

cace

he definitely has alot more to do but there is not much left out there for him to do parker or kabayel are the only ones that deserve a shot and neither one of them will get into talks with the super greats

9mo ago

Willow_The_Wisp

I'm pleased with the dialog I began in this thread. It speaks to being more realistic about Oleksandr Usyk's resume than you likely will find these days; it pumps the brakes on the rapid progress of the next phenomenon, Moses Itauma just a little bit, and; as the "Land of the giants" decade long era of 2015 - 2025 begins to close up the shop, the thread begins to set the expectations for where we go next with the Heavyweights. 2025 02-08 Derek Chisora W 12 Otto Wallin 02-22 Joseph Parker KO 2 Martin Bakole 02-22 Agit Kabayel KO 6 Zhilei Zhang 04-05 Richard Torrez Jr W 10 Guido Vianello 04-05 Filip Hrgovic W 10 Joe Joyce 05-03 Efe Ajagba D 10 Martin Bakole 05-17 Tony Yoka W 10 Arslan Yallyev 06-07 Fabio Wardley KO 10 Justis Huni 07-19 Lawrence Okolie W 10 Kevin Lerena 07-19 Oleksandr Usyk KO 5 Daniel Dubois 08-16 Filip Hrgovic W 10 David Adeleye 08-16 Moses Itauma KO 1 Dillian Whyte Possible shake-outs going forward????: Quarter 3-4 2025 - Some Possible fights: Murat Gassiev KO 3 Jeremiah Milton Murat Gassiev KO 4 Andrzej Wawrzyk Fabio Wardley KO 10 Kubrat Pulev Kubrat Pulev W 12 Michael Hunter Jarrell Miller KO 10 Michael Hunter Efe Ajagba W 10 Frank Sanchez II Anthony Joshua KO 3 Jake Paul Anthony Joshua ?? 10 Tony Yoka Moses Itauma KO 3 Jermaine Franklin Moses Itauma KO 7 Filip Hrgovic Agit Kabayel KO 6 Lawrence Okolie Oleksandr Usyk W 12 Joseph Parker

9mo ago

Smash

9mo ago

Smash

who the hell is calling usyk goat at heavyweight anyway, ive not seen any p4p list that even puts him anywhere near that position whatsoever, where are they?

9mo ago

LizaG

I think Usyk's accomplishments may not necessarily guarantee him GOAT status at HW, but his accomplishments at HW make him a GOAT CW for sure. No CW will go on to accomplish what Usyk has done.

9mo ago

hugh_grant

You could make the case hes top 20 all time when you factor in his cruiserweight and ammy career too. But as far as judging him purely as a HW, i'm not sure thats a top 10 resume yet, its 5 opponents across 8 fights at the end of the day, not a lot. People have seen usyk skill and usually think h2h he's already top 5 as far as h2h goes. But accept he needs a few more wins to be alongside Ali, louis, lewis,. Best kabayel, itauma, and Parker then he will be. At his age its asking a lot, he's allowed to lose and win rematch.

9mo ago

TMLT87

9mo ago

JakeTheBoxer

Ituama could potentially be the best name on his resume and could age the best If he wins Ituamas next 15 years or so as a pro or potential champion would only enhance Usyks record should he win Parker certainly doesnt do anything for his legacy and Kabayel will fall short eventually whether its to Usyk or not I agree. Beating a young future star is always a great win for aging boxer. But I think Kabayel would also be a good win.

9mo ago

Stuntman_Mike

9mo ago

NihonJim

There's a weird cult like thing around Usyk where criticism of any kind against him is just not allowed. The truth is AJ and Fury both looked like spent forces BEFORE they fought him. Case in point in both fights people picking AJ or Fury always based it on size and then being too big, nothing else, because their form in the ring was poor at the time. I see Usyk as a top Cruiserweight and a very good heavyweight champ but I can't rate him higher than that based off wins over that AJ and that Fury If Usyk had beat Pre Ruiz AJ and Fury 6 months after Wilder 2 those wins would be far better. Dubois 2 was a very good win, Dubois was in great form, that is Usyks best win at heavyweight for me. A best win of Dubois does not an ATG heavyweight make.

9mo ago

Willow_The_Wisp

AJ was 31 thats not a bad age im sure u might agree for a heavyweight fighter and by all accounts he put in a nice sharp performance v usyk in fight 1 fury had 2 wins over wilder stopped whyte and chisora before his usyk fight, they were both belt holders and seen as top dogs in the division until after usyk beat them Oh, they were of course. I'm not saying they weren't, nor could anyone argue that Usyk is Absolutely the best of this generation based on those historic wins. But, what I AM saying, is that since then, and very quickly, Fury has called it a day and Joshua looked just awful in his last fight, and both men were at the very end of their respective careers in boxing when Usyk came around. That's all. Remember that age and it's relationship to career status varies among individuals. Joshua in particular, is shot. Fury was, and quite naturally; largely ruined by his wars with Wilder. They both hastened their demise in their trilogy, as bodies can take only so much. It is certainly unfair, but future observers; likely just as critical as today's "most people", will, and perhaps rightly, seize on that as a means of denigrating (or tempering the value) of Usyk's body of work; calling him a late arriver to an era that was nearly played out.....UNLESS he can add a few younger "late era/early next era" names to his slightly light resume. For one of the fighters with the fewest number of fights among ATG's, it shouldn't be too big an ask. Particularly since Kabayel, Parker and young Moses Itauma are all in better form today than Tyson and A.J. have been for a while. That's fair, I should think. I not a critic of IBHOF shoe-in Usyk. If you have worthy challengers queued up and are coming off one of your best career performances, then leave no doubt! Have that 25th and 26th fight. The 27th would seal the deal for any critical S.O.B.

9mo ago