Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis nearly 25 years ago – and David Haye has given his prediction on how the two champions would fare against one other.
Usyk stepped up from being cruiserweight undisputed champion to collect all belts at heavyweight, joining just Evander Holyfield as the only men to be the sole ruler in boxing’s two heaviest weight classes.
Lewis, a former three-time champion, is regarded by some as the greatest heavyweight ever. His resume stacks up against the best, facing the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko, Ray Mercer and Hasim Rahman before hanging up the gloves in 2003. Lewis remains one of the only heavyweight champions to have defeated every man he ever faced, with victories over Oliver McCall and Rahman in rematches after first losing to them.
Haye, like Usyk, was a cruiserweight champ and moved up to challenge for the WBA heavyweight title in just his second fight at the weight. He took on the 7ft Nikolai Valuev and won a majority decision after rocking the giant Russian for the first time in his career.
On who ‘The Haymaker’ thinks would come out on top between today’s champion, Usyk, and the 90s era great, Lewis, Haye told MailSportBoxing without hesitation that Lennox would be the man to get his hand raised.
Some pundits feel the time is now for Usyk to walk away from the sport having nothing left achieve, but he has vowed to carry out his contractual rematch obligation against Fury. The two are set to run it back in Saudi Arabia on December 21.
