Joshua's opinion carries weight, as he's faced Usyk twice in the ring. Their first bout took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021, followed by a rematch at Wembley in 2022. Joshua lost both fights on points, despite entering as the unified belt holder.
Before his encounters with Usyk, Joshua had racked up impressive wins against opponents like Kubrat Pulev, Carlos Takam, Wladimir Klitschko, and Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch. However, Usyk proved to be a different challenge altogether.
In both fights, Usyk managed to avoid Joshua's biggest shots while landing plenty of his own. This strategy frustrated Joshua, leading to an outburst after the rematch defeat.
Since then, Usyk has cemented his status as the best of the current era by twice beating Tyson Fury. His achievements have led to comparisons with past greats, including Lennox Lewis, the last dominant heavyweight champion at the turn of the millennium.
When asked about a hypothetical matchup between Usyk and Lewis, Joshua initially called it a 50-50 fight. However, when pressed for a definitive answer, he gave the edge to Usyk.
"I'd say Oleksandr Usyk," Joshua said in the Mail Sport Boxing interview.
Usyk's future remains uncertain, with no scheduled fight at present. He might face the winner of the Joseph Parker vs Daniel Dubois bout, potentially setting up his second undisputed contest.
Meanwhile, Joshua is still hoping for a career-defining fight against Tyson Fury. However, Fury's recent retirement announcement has thrown a wrench in those plans.
As the heavyweight division continues to evolve, Joshua's assessment of Usyk's skills against a legend like Lewis shows the high regard in which the Ukrainian champion is held. It also highlights the changing landscape of heavyweight boxing, where technical skill and strategy are increasingly valued alongside raw power.