Comments Thread For: Fighting Words: All-time debate shouldnt distract from Oleksandr Usyks accomplishments

[BoxingUpdates]

David Greisman reflects on how Oleksandr Usyk's place in history is subjective, but his incredible achievements in the sport are not.
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[crimsonfalcon07]

The article says he's beaten 2 of the other top 3 heavyweights, but it's entirely possible that the Dubois win will age well historically.

[VislorTurlough]

Can only deal with who is around in your era. Unfortunately only 1 HW of great historical significance Fury. Wilder and Joshua rate amongst the Witherspoon/Mike Weavers of division lore. Guys who held a belt for a while

[DClefthook]

This has to be the most laughable article on HW boxing that has ever been written. I can only suspect that David Greisman received a very good Xmas gift from Egis Klimas as incentive to write this fluff piece.

[DClefthook]

First and foremost I will preface this by saying props to Ugas for becoming undisputed HW champ. This is the era he fought in and he can't control any of that. He has fought six times at HW against four fighters:
1. Chaz Witherspoon (unknown American cab driver)
2. AJ (fought twice and extremely overrated)
3. Dubois (gift decision)
4. Fury (legit champ)
He fought four different guys with no real KOs. Never even dropped any of them. I don't want to hate on him at all but please let's not put him in the same orbit as the real HW champs. Since his wins were against British champs you can arguably call him the best European HW ever but I think LenOX Lewis would beg to differ!

[DClefthook]

The absolute best era of HW boxing was the 1960s-1990s when the big American brutes ruled. But after the 6'8 250lb Americans abandoned boxing for the NBA and NFL for more lucrative opportunities only then did the Euros step up. Wilder may be the last American we will see for a long time and that's bad news for the sport. Say what you want but boxing is in a much better place when there is a US/UK champ. It is what it is!

[archiemoore1]

The all time great debate is pointless. He's the best in his era.. Plus, what era could he have fought in and not won titles? Nobody would have had an easy time with Usyk

[Ropeydope]

First and foremost I will preface this by saying props to Ugas for becoming undisputed HW champ. This is the era he fought in and he can't control any of that. He has fought six times at HW against four fighters:
1. Chaz Witherspoon (unknown American cab driver)
2. AJ (fought twice and extremely overrated)
3. Dubois (gift decision)
4. Fury (legit champ)
He fought four different guys with no real KOs. Never even dropped any of them. I don't want to hate on him at all but please let's not put him in the same orbit as the real HW champs. Since his wins were against British champs you can arguably call him the best European HW ever but I think LenOX Lewis would beg to differ!

Lennox Lewis is a Canadian boxer in spite of being born in the UK.
I agree with you that this era was a lot of smoke and mirrors. Mike Tysons race to youngest HW champ was a weak period too, but I do wonder how this particular guy, Usyk, would have done in other eras.
Like the writer says, it’s kind of pointless to imagine, you’re only able to prove yourself against those available in this era. The guy has already accomplished a lot in spite of obvious disadvantages, which make it all the more impressive.

[zod66]

TLDR Slava Ukraine Happy New 2025

[DClefthook]

Lennox Lewis is a Canadian boxer in spite of being born in the UK.
I agree with you that this era was a lot of smoke and mirrors. Mike Tysons race to youngest HW champ was a weak period too, but I do wonder how this particular guy, Usyk, would have done in other eras.
Like the writer says, it’s kind of pointless to imagine, you’re only able to prove yourself against those available in this era. The guy has already accomplished a lot in spite of obvious disadvantages, which make it all the more impressive.

Whoa Kemosabe....Let's not compare Usyk's championship run to Tysons. Usyk only had to go through Chaz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora before getting a shot at AJ. Tyson had to go through 27 contenders in a two year period before KOing Trevor Berbick to get his title. Then he had to defend his strap against James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and Frank Bruno before he finally lost to Koke-cane.....I mean Buster Douglas. Listen I like Usyk but he in no way compares or survives against that era from the 70s-90s.