Oleksandr Usyk is well-placed to give his view on the very best boxers on the planet.
For many people, the Ukrainian southpaw himself would top the current pound-for-pound list. He is a two-time undisputed champion having first cleaned out the cruiserweight division in 2018 before moving up to the banner division and doing the same.
His fights at heavyweight have seen him beat Daniel Dubois by KO, Anthony Joshua on points in back-to-back 12-rounders, and then the very same against Tyson Fury.
His first fight with ‘The Gypsy King’ was to add the WBC belt to his IBF, WBO and WBA honours, and second time was to defend the three still in his possession in December.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing, Usyk was asked to name the very best fighters on the planet and, in typical fashion, didn’t mention himself. Instead, he puts Terence Crawford at the top of the pile.
“The five best boxers in the world now. First Terence Crawford, second Saul Alvarez, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue.”
Crawford is a fellow two-weight undisputed champion who held the honour at super-lightweight and then welterweight. The switch-hitter from Omaha, Nebraska current holds a belt in the 154 lbs division and is undefeated in an incredible 41 fights.
Next up for looks to be a fight with ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September. Should Crawford manage to jump up a further two weight classes and defeat the Mexican who is not only bigger, but has only lost twice in 66 fights, then there it won’t just be Usyk who considers him the very best in the world.
