Oleksandr Usyk’s case for being a top-12 all-time heavyweight is strong but depends on how you weigh different factors. His resume is elite: undisputed cruiserweight champion, undisputed heavyweight champion (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF), and wins over top-tier opponents like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois. There is no question as he has beaten each man twice.
His technical mastery—footwork, angles, and punch accuracy, combined with his ring IQ and natural 12+ round stamina where he does not need any breaks and forces the other man to match his never ending movement or be out angled and not have their feet set to throw a punch—is arguably unmatched in the division’s history. He’s also got an Olympic gold medal (2012) and a perfect 24-0, 15 KO's. At 6'3" 255 pounds he is neither short, or lacking reach. Very few heavies were faster handed and and had swifter feet. Very few had better reflexes. You could count them on one head. His chin is very good.
Beating Fury in their rematch (December 2024) further solidified his legacy, making him the first to unify all four major belts in the four-belt era and defend them.
However, ranking him top-12 all-time invites debate due to the heavyweight division’s storied history. Legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Vitlai Klitscko, and Wladimir Klitschko dominate such lists in my opinion.
Each has a mix of dominance, longevity, cultural impact, or iconic fights that Usyk, at 38 with only eight heavyweight bouts, doesn’t fully match yet.
No heavyweight has matched his cruiser-to-heavyweight undisputed double, and his win over Fury, a 6’9” giant, showcases his ability to overcome size disadvantages with skill.f opposition. However he needs more title defenses to crack the upper echelon. He has not finished boxing yet ( he has 1.5 - 2 more good years left in my opinion ) and can rate a bit higher.
How? By beating younger pros like Parker, Kayabel, Hrgovic, and Jarolov and having them carve out their own legacy when he retires. He has ducked no man and had no oops moments ( losses, draws, or questionable decisions ) like every one else does above him on the all time list.
IMO, he is a top 12 all time great heavyweight.
His technical mastery—footwork, angles, and punch accuracy, combined with his ring IQ and natural 12+ round stamina where he does not need any breaks and forces the other man to match his never ending movement or be out angled and not have their feet set to throw a punch—is arguably unmatched in the division’s history. He’s also got an Olympic gold medal (2012) and a perfect 24-0, 15 KO's. At 6'3" 255 pounds he is neither short, or lacking reach. Very few heavies were faster handed and and had swifter feet. Very few had better reflexes. You could count them on one head. His chin is very good.
Beating Fury in their rematch (December 2024) further solidified his legacy, making him the first to unify all four major belts in the four-belt era and defend them.
However, ranking him top-12 all-time invites debate due to the heavyweight division’s storied history. Legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Vitlai Klitscko, and Wladimir Klitschko dominate such lists in my opinion.
Each has a mix of dominance, longevity, cultural impact, or iconic fights that Usyk, at 38 with only eight heavyweight bouts, doesn’t fully match yet.
No heavyweight has matched his cruiser-to-heavyweight undisputed double, and his win over Fury, a 6’9” giant, showcases his ability to overcome size disadvantages with skill.f opposition. However he needs more title defenses to crack the upper echelon. He has not finished boxing yet ( he has 1.5 - 2 more good years left in my opinion ) and can rate a bit higher.
How? By beating younger pros like Parker, Kayabel, Hrgovic, and Jarolov and having them carve out their own legacy when he retires. He has ducked no man and had no oops moments ( losses, draws, or questionable decisions ) like every one else does above him on the all time list.
IMO, he is a top 12 all time great heavyweight.
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