Tim Bradley, a Hall of Fame boxer, has picked Oleksandr Usyk as the current pound-for-pound number one in boxing. Bradley shared his thoughts on the rankings that often spark debate among fans and fighters alike.
Bradley's own career saw him as a regular in the top 10 pound-for-pound list from 2010 to 2015. He even reached the number three spot in The Ring rankings back in 2013. Now, he's weighing in on today's top fighters.
Initially, Bradley had high praise for Terence Crawford. Before Crawford's potential fight with Canelo Alvarez, Bradley said:
"Crawford is a pound-for-pound guy. Arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world depending on the accolades involved in this too."
However, when it came to his final assessment, Bradley gave the top spot to Oleksandr Usyk. In an interview with Fighthype, Bradley explained:
"What Usyk has done in the last few years has been phenomenal. You can't deny him that top spot, but Crawford has been 1, 2 or 3 for years. Over a decade on the pound-for-pound list."
Usyk's recent achievements are hard to ignore. He's become the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. His list of wins includes big names like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Mairis Briedis, and Murat Gassiev.
Crawford's resume is equally impressive. He's been undisputed champion in two weight classes - super-lightweight and welterweight. He's also held titles at lightweight and super-welterweight, making him a four-division champion.
Crawford's next fight could shake up the pound-for-pound rankings even more. He's set to face Canelo Alvarez at super-middleweight in September, if Alvarez beats William Scull in May. A win for Crawford would make him undisputed in a third division - something no male boxer has ever done before. That achievement would make it hard to argue against Crawford as the pound-for-pound king.
The pound-for-pound debate will surely continue, but for now, Bradley gives the edge to Usyk based on his recent performances.
