Lennox Lewis and Oleksandr Usyk share a common accolade in the heavyweight division.
Before Usyk came along, Lewis was the last undisputed champion – a long-reigning heavyweight who was famed for his solid fundamentals, stiff jab and big right hand.
Lewis beat every man he ever faced although he did take two upset losses to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall, both of which he avenged before also beating the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.
Usyk has never lost in the ring and has never been down. He became undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, then undisputed at heavyweight in 2024 after beating Tyson Fury for the first time, a victory he then repeated in the rematch back in December.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Lewis was asked how he would take on the challenge of Usyk,
“I would go after Oleksandr Usyk and assert myself, back him up, and make him move. It’s quicker to go forward than backwards. Usyk would be going backwards cause I’d be going after him.
“Asserting myself, getting my combinations in, always ending with a hook or an uppercut ’cause he ducks a lot, sways a lot, he’s a counter puncher so he’s waiting for you to throw so he can counterpunch.”
He was then asked where Usyk sits in terms of the all-time great heavyweight fighters and Lewis gave the highest praise.
“I would say in the same room as me.”
