Oleksandr Usyk has spoken about a fantasy matchup with the great Muhammad Ali.
Usyk is one of the best heavyweights to ever do it. The Ukrainian won a gold medal at the London Olympic Games, then turned professional and within six years had become the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
The now 39-year-old moved up to the banner division and within another six years cleaned out every opponent and became undisputed after beating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, who he then beat again shortly after to become a two-time undisputed ruler.
He has never been legitimately knocked down on the canvas across his 25 fights, and having recently vacated his belts, he is now just one fight away from retirement and has previously said he would like to fight the once fearsome American puncher Deontay Wilder before he retires.
Speaking to FightHype in the meantime, Usyk admitted that the man he would most like to fight from all of boxing history is Muhammad Ali, and then gave a surprising answer when asked how he thought he might get on.
“It would be a hard fight. 12 rounds, maybe 15 rounds, but I not win. Muhammad Ali win. Yes, split decision.”
Ali was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and finished as a three-time world heavyweight champion, so a fight with Usyk would, by most measures, be a clash of two of the most rounded and accomplished fighters the sport has ever seen.
