Where would you rate Usyk in the top 10 of all time Heavyweight boxers.

[Monte Moku]

I think this is one of those cases where the distinction between "greatest" (most career accomplishments/most high level opponents defeated) and "best" (highest degree of skill) is very important. You don't choose what era you're born in, and modern Boxing politics seems to stall activity at the higher levels, so it will be nigh impossible for today's (and potentially the future) Boxers to compete with the resumes and accomplishments of past champions. IMO there aren't many HW Boxers who have been better than Usyk, but there are more than a few who eclipse his accomplishments

 

[PBAC]

I mean just look at Holy's record up to Lewis ... and arguably beyond that and you can see these two are not comparable.

 

[Dr Fong]

One of the recognized GOATs getting KOd by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman while still in his prime is not some fun bit of trivia, it's the reality of HW boxing.

Not every guy in the HW GOAT discussion suffered the same blemishes but the threat is always there. A handful of fights, not matter the quality of competition, can't stack up to a whole career of beating HWs.

Usyk would probably beat limited power-punchers like Zhang and Wilder. But he doesn't credit for 'probably'. You either beat dangerous and varied threats throughout a long career or you don't.

 

[michhmoggan]

He's the best HW of this era so he has arguments to be in the top ten hw ranking

 

[The Bloody Nine]

He's the best HW of this era so he has arguments to be in the top ten hw ranking

He could hold his own against any HW in history, in my opinion. But he only has 6 fights at HW. Which rules him out.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

I mean just look at Holy's record up to Lewis ... and arguably beyond that and you can see these two are not comparable.

His resume at heavyweight is great but prior to fighting Lewis he already had 2 losses to Bowe and an embarrassing loss to a blown up light heavyweight in Michael Moorer. The same Moorer that was brutally KO'd by old Foreman later that same year and later KO'd by Tua in 1 round.

Usyk accomplished in the four-belt era what Holyfield did in the three-belt era. They're the only two former cruiserweights to have ever been undisputed there and at heavyweight. Hence the comparisons. He doesn't have anywhere near the resume at heavyweight like Holyfield has but the cruiserweight division he cleaned out was deeper than the one Holyfield conquered.

A fighter can only beat the best of their era and Usyk's done that while remaining undefeated. Want a fair comparison of their respective heavyweight careers since Usyk has only had 6 fights there? Here it is. You're right. There's no comparison.

Holyfield's first 6 fights at heavyweight

James Tillis
Pinklon Thomas
Michael Dokes
Adilson Rodrigues
Alex Stewart
Seamus McDonagh

Usyk's first 6 fights at heavyweight

Chazz Witherspoon
Derek Chisora
Anthony Joshua (2×)
Daniel Dubois
Tyson Fury