Oleksandr Usyk is widely considered as the best fighter in the world, though not in his own humble opinion.
The Ukrainian’s Olympic Gold Medal, undisputed cruiserweight title and undisputed heavyweight title – potentially soon to be two – make him a first ballot Hall of Famer. Double victories over the best of an era in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as well as many statement performances coming on the road, have earned him fans worldwide.
Usyk will rematch Daniel Dubois this month in an attempt to take back the IBF belt that he vacated, with a win again securing him all four heavyweight belts. He is then targeting one more fight before retirement.
Though undoubtedly one of boxing’s most successful fighters in some years, the Ukrainian told Carl Froch he still considers one man above him in the pound-for-pound list: Terence Crawford.
“I think it’s Terence Crawford. I’m not the best fighter in the world. It’s Terence Crawford.”
Crawford – who considers Usyk the best – is also a two-weight undisputed champion. He looks to make that three in September when he moves up to super-middleweight in an attempt to become just the third man to defeat Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in some 68 fights.
The switch-hitter from Omaha, Nebraska is undefeated in 41, with his biggest wins coming over the likes of Shawn Porter, Errol Spence Jr and Israil Madrimov.
Though everyone has their preferences, the consensus for pound-for-pound number one will likely switch to Usyk should he win at Wembley Stadium on July 19, but back to ‘Bud’ if he can topple Canelo later in the year. Either way, both men are unquestionably generational greats.
