Where does Gassiev Usyk winner rank on atg cruserweight status?

[Irony123]

Of course he is. He's the GOAT at cruiser. Won all three belts from 3 separate champions including winning the title in his 12th fight against a formidable HOF fighter like Qawi. DeLeon was no joke too. Holyfield beat excellent competition and even destroyed Qawi in a re-match.

I see, I remember most of his work at heavyweight, please excuse my ignorance as i am not overly familar with the cruiserweights of the 80. But surely usyk and Gasiev are doing something similar especially the winner would have a loaded resume of excellent cruiserweights, especially if Usyk wins. He will have, Glowacki, Huck, Briedis and Gassiev, none of these guys are pushovers though Huck is past his prime, but the rest aren't and are undefeated.

[chrisJS]

David Gaye shouldn't be near the top. He got whupped by an ancient Carl Thompson and beat Mormeck and the fairly average Macirenelli. James Toney has a much better case as does DeLeon. Gassiev, Usyk and Huck all have a better case too

[chrisJS]

I see, I remember most of his work at heavyweight, please excuse my ignorance as i am not overly familar with the cruiserweights of the 80. But surely usyk and Gasiev are doing something similar especially the winner would have a loaded resume of excellent cruiserweights, especially if Usyk wins. He will have, Glowacki, Huck, Briedis and Gassiev, none of these guys are pushovers though Huck is past his prime, but the rest aren't and are undefeated.

Sometimes even if the resume is close it can come down to who the better fighter was. Holyfield was better than Usyk or Gassiev could ever be. He's basically as far out at Cruiser as the goat as Finito Lopez is to straweight.

[Irony123]

Sometimes even if the resume is close it can come down to who the better fighter was. Holyfield was better than Usyk or Gassiev could ever be. He's basically as far out at Cruiser as the goat as Finito Lopez is to straweight.

Here is the thing though, when you say he is better then they could ever be you are exhibiting bias, now he can very well be better than they will ever be but both guys are undefeated and fighting top level competition you can't possibly know what the future holds for them.

When Holyfield was the Cruiserweight champion he only reigned over half the possible competitors, you didn't have professional Cuban fighters or eastern European/communist countries fighters. These guys right now are fighting everyone in the world. If you will just assume that Holyfield is the best that there ever was and ever will be then there is no reason to debate.

[chrisJS]

Here is the thing though, when you say he is better then they could ever be you are exhibiting bias, now he can very well be better than they will ever be but both guys are undefeated and fighting top level competition you can't possibly know what the future holds for them.

When Holyfield was the Cruiserweight champion he only reigned over half the possible competitors, you didn't have professional Cuban fighters or eastern European/communist countries fighters. These guys right now are fighting everyone in the world. If you will just assume that Holyfield is the best that there ever was and ever will be then there is no reason to debate.

Whoever wins is moving up. The money is at Heavyweight so whoever makes history in May will be moving up shortly after. There were also more American fighters in that division then at a time when America had top heavyweights too.

I like Usyk a lot. I think he's great but you can't watch him fight and watch Holyfield fight and come to the conclusion Usyk is better. Holyfield is one of the best fighters of the last half century - period. Cruiserweight is where he was most dominant and the opposition was very good. Qawi for example would be hell for any of today's guys and so to would DeLeon. I doubt Briedis or Dorticos gives Evander much difficulty. Usyk is the one due to style, movement, volume I can see troubling Holyfield but certainly not beating him.