Oleksandr Usyk isn’t an all-time nice regardless of wins over Tyson Fury in line with ex-world champion Duke McKenzie.
The Ukrainian star cemented his title within the document books in 2024 changing into the primary undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis, by beating Tyson Fury.
Usyk has accomplished all of it in boxing proper nowGetty
In December, Usyk ensured he was thought of the division’s greatest fighter by beating Fury once more to retain standing because the undefeated prime canine.
This period of dominance all got here having stepped up from cruiserweight in 2018, having cleared out the contenders and reigned as an undisputed champion at that weight class.
After his latest win, many positioned Usyk as an all-time nice having conquered the trendy period, and overwhelmed the perfect round together with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
There have been doubts over his measurement however he has proved them irrelevant towards the present crop, but it surely stays to be seen how he’d form up towards greats of the previous.
However former world champion McKenzie believes he isn’t ranked as an all-time nice, and is solely a contemporary period icon.
He advised talkSPORT.com: “Sadly for Oleksandr Usyk, he’s not an all-time nice. He’s a contemporary nice.
“We’re on this 4 belt period, as a result of he has gained all of them at cruiserweight and heavyweight, it makes him a modern-day nice.
“However sadly for Usyk, he doesn’t have sufficient dance companions like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers.
“They may all bounce off of one another and battle towards one another, by way of all-time greats.
“Even in Mike Tyson‘s period, he had Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield. You had distinctive champions then.
talkSPORTMcKenzie isn’t certain Usyk would beat previous heavyweights[/caption]
“Any of those guys I have just named, Usyk wouldn’t have beaten them. And that is my honest opinion.”
McKenzie went on to make use of former undisputed champion Lewis for example, suggesting he would have overwhelmed him in a main vs prime battle.
He continued: “As a former world champion, if I put myself of their sneakers.
“How would I beat Oleksandr Usyk if I used to be Lennox Lewis for instance. He wouldn’t get close to him.
“Lennox Lewis would batter him in to subsequent Tuesday. These guys are real heavyweights, massive heavyweights.
“Personally I believe it’s improper saying he’d beat them. There may be discuss of him dropping again right down to cruiserweight.
Usyk beat Fury and cemented his title on the pinnacle of the divisionMatchroom
“But he deserves his place as a modern-day great no doubt.”
Usyk shall be delighted along with his legacy within the sport nonetheless, however will after all be eager to protect his undefeated document.
Ought to he achieve this, it’ll naturally lead him into a number of all-time debates, given he has executed all he can do within the sport.
When Fury and Joshua had been within the ascendency, they had been in consideration to be trendy greats and Usyk dismantled each.
The champion is now 37-years-old however retirement could possibly be on the horizon given his accomplishments.
However he has been closely linked with a rematch towards Dubois, who jumped into the ring and known as him out after beating Fury.
Though ‘The Cat’ is ready to take a break from the game earlier than deciding his subsequent transfer.
Oleksandr Usyk isn’t an all-time nice regardless of wins over Tyson Fury in line with ex-world champion Duke McKenzie.
The Ukrainian star cemented his title within the document books in 2024 changing into the primary undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis, by beating Tyson Fury.
Usyk has accomplished all of it in boxing proper nowGetty
In December, Usyk ensured he was thought of the division’s greatest fighter by beating Fury once more to retain standing because the undefeated prime canine.
This period of dominance all got here having stepped up from cruiserweight in 2018, having cleared out the contenders and reigned as an undisputed champion at that weight class.
After his latest win, many positioned Usyk as an all-time nice having conquered the trendy period, and overwhelmed the perfect round together with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
There have been doubts over his measurement however he has proved them irrelevant towards the present crop, but it surely stays to be seen how he’d form up towards greats of the previous.
However former world champion McKenzie believes he isn’t ranked as an all-time nice, and is solely a contemporary period icon.
He advised talkSPORT.com: “Sadly for Oleksandr Usyk, he’s not an all-time nice. He’s a contemporary nice.
“We’re on this 4 belt period, as a result of he has gained all of them at cruiserweight and heavyweight, it makes him a modern-day nice.
“However sadly for Usyk, he doesn’t have sufficient dance companions like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers.
“They may all bounce off of one another and battle towards one another, by way of all-time greats.
“Even in Mike Tyson‘s period, he had Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield. You had distinctive champions then.
talkSPORTMcKenzie isn’t certain Usyk would beat previous heavyweights[/caption]
“Any of those guys I have just named, Usyk wouldn’t have beaten them. And that is my honest opinion.”
McKenzie went on to make use of former undisputed champion Lewis for example, suggesting he would have overwhelmed him in a main vs prime battle.
He continued: “As a former world champion, if I put myself of their sneakers.
“How would I beat Oleksandr Usyk if I used to be Lennox Lewis for instance. He wouldn’t get close to him.
“Lennox Lewis would batter him in to subsequent Tuesday. These guys are real heavyweights, massive heavyweights.
“Personally I believe it’s improper saying he’d beat them. There may be discuss of him dropping again right down to cruiserweight.
Usyk beat Fury and cemented his title on the pinnacle of the divisionMatchroom
“But he deserves his place as a modern-day great no doubt.”
Usyk shall be delighted along with his legacy within the sport nonetheless, however will after all be eager to protect his undefeated document.
Ought to he achieve this, it’ll naturally lead him into a number of all-time debates, given he has executed all he can do within the sport.
When Fury and Joshua had been within the ascendency, they had been in consideration to be trendy greats and Usyk dismantled each.
The champion is now 37-years-old however retirement could possibly be on the horizon given his accomplishments.
However he has been closely linked with a rematch towards Dubois, who jumped into the ring and known as him out after beating Fury.
Though ‘The Cat’ is ready to take a break from the game earlier than deciding his subsequent transfer.
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