Teddy Atlas has been comparing Oleksandr Usyk to some of the best heavyweights to ever lace up the gloves.
Atlas knows a thing or two about talented big men. Having worked with Mike Tyson in his very early days, Atlas would later train Michael Moorer, who became the first southpaw heavyweight world champion in the history of the sport.
Usyk is currently the unified world heavyweight ruler who was undisputed back in May last year after he beat Tyson Fury. He had to caveat his IBF belt in order to react and beat Fury again back in December and has previously also beaten Anthony Joshua, twice, and Daniel Dubois, all having already unified the cruiserweight division back in 2018.
Speaking on his own channel The Fight, Atlas ranked Usyk in his list of all-time greats.
“It’s my list so I get to do it the way I want to do it … Usyk is coming into the party. It’s just a matter of when he reties so I have to leave a slot for Mr Usyk, so right now I’m going to leave number six open …
Ahead of Usyk, Atlas puts George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis in his top five best big men of all time.
The Ukrainian is now hoping to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, making yet more history. However, potentially standing in his way is WBO mandatory Joseph Parker, who he has been ordered to defend against next, while his IBF target Dubois has also been ordered to face his mandatory, Derek Chisora.
