Usyk's journey to the heavyweight throne started with Olympic gold in 2012. He then dominated the cruiserweight division, becoming the undisputed champion in 2018. The Ukrainian didn't stop there. He moved up to heavyweight and quickly made his mark.
In 2021, Usyk outpointed Anthony Joshua to win his first heavyweight titles. He repeated the feat in 2022, cementing his status as a top heavyweight. Victories over Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury followed, with Usyk beating Fury twice to claim all the heavyweight belts.
Now, Usyk stands as the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title he earned in December 2023. His undefeated professional record and stylish southpaw boxing have earned him a reputation as a generational great and the pound-for-pound king of boxing.
In a recent chat with Daily Mail Sport, Eddie Hearn, who promotes Anthony Joshua, made a surprising claim about Usyk's abilities. He said Usyk would beat a prime Mike Tyson but would lose to Muhammad Ali.
"Usyk would beat a prime Mike Tyson but lose to Muhammad Ali."
Hearn's statement puts Usyk in elite company. Ali, known as "The Greatest," shocked the world in 1974 when he defeated George Foreman to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk's next goal? He wants to follow in Ali's footsteps and become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. Given his track record, few would bet against him achieving this feat.
The heavyweight division has always been boxing's glamour weight class. With Usyk at the top, it's hard to see who can challenge him. Hearn's statement suggests that only the greatest of all time could topple the Ukrainian champion.
As Usyk continues to dominate, the boxing world watches with interest. Will anyone step up to challenge the undisputed champion? Or will Usyk's reign continue unchallenged? Only time will tell, but for now, Usyk's place in boxing history seems secure.