Frank Bruno, the British heavyweight legend, thinks Lennox Lewis would beat Oleksandr Usyk in a fantasy matchup. Bruno shared his thoughts on this imaginary bout between two undisputed heavyweight champions from different eras.
Usyk, now 38, has made a big name for himself in boxing. He's the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 'four belt era' and beat Tyson Fury twice in 2024. Many see him as the best heavyweight of his time.
Lewis, known as 'The Lion', became the undisputed champion back in 1999. He won that title by beating Evander Holyfield in a rematch. Their first fight ended in a split draw in March 1999, but Lewis won the second one by unanimous decision. That victory added the WBA and IBF titles to his WBC crown.
Bruno, who lost to Lewis by knockout in 1993, doesn't think Usyk would have done as well in the 1990s. In a recent interview with iFL TV, Bruno said:
"I don't think in my era he would have got this far. In his era, he's done very well. I'm not being b****y when I say that, I'm only talking from the heart. He wouldn't have stood [a chance with the likes of Lennox Lewis]. They're too big heavyweights for him, naturally big guys, you know."
Bruno feels the heavyweights of his time were just too big for Usyk. He doesn't mean to be rude, he says, but he's speaking from the heart.
Usyk's future in boxing isn't clear yet. He'll probably keep fighting and might have a rematch with IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk beat Dubois two years ago in a fight that caused some arguments.
Bruno knows firsthand how tough Lewis was. Their 1993 fight ended with Bruno losing by knockout. But even with that experience, it's hard to say for sure how a fight between Lewis and Usyk would go. Both fighters were the best of their time, just in different eras of heavyweight boxing.
