After Oleksandr Usyk added another chapter to his story in the boxing history books, people in the sport are looking back to some of the other great heavyweights. Deontay Wilder‘s trainer and former fighter, Malik Scott, believes one man stands head and shoulders above the rest.
A 38-3-1 fighter, Scott hung up the gloves and now finds himself in the corner of a man who once stopped him inside a round, Wilder.
Asked recently by Seconds Out for his thoughts on the performance of Usyk against Tyson Fury to capture the undisputed championship, the heavyweight historian took a moment to mention the last man to achieve such a feat – Lennox Lewis.
“Lennox Lewis is the greatest heavyweight of all time. Including Ali. If we’re talking about in the ring – I ain’t talking about outside the ring – in the ring, Lennox Lewis is the greatest of all time. These others guys can’t even tie his shoe. They’re not even close.”
Lewis hung up the gloves with a record of 41-2-1, with those two shock knockout losses being avenged down the line. Following amateur success with a super-heavyweight Olympic Gold Medal, his 13 year pro career included 18 world title fights, 14 of which were successful defences.
He beat Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Mike Tyson during the campaign, retiring on a stoppage victory of Vitali Klitschko in 2003.
The heavyweight great was in attendance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this month to witness Usyk take to the undisputed throne 25 years on from when he ruled.
