Teddy Atlas has given Oleksandr Usyk high praise, ranking him as a potential top-six heavyweight of all time. The legendary trainer's assessment comes as Usyk continues to dominate the heavyweight division.
Atlas, who worked with Mike Tyson in his early days and trained Michael Moorer to become the first southpaw heavyweight world champion, shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, The Fight.
"It's my list so I get to do it the way I want to do it … Usyk is coming into the party. It's just a matter of when he retires so I have to leave a slot for Mr Usyk, so right now I'm going to leave number six open …"
Atlas placed George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Louis ahead of Usyk in his all-time heavyweight rankings. The Ukrainian's potential inclusion in such esteemed company speaks volumes about his achievements in the ring.
Usyk's journey to the top of the heavyweight division has been nothing short of remarkable. He unified the cruiserweight division in 2018 before moving up to heavyweight, where he's continued to impress.
The southpaw secured his place in boxing history by beating Tyson Fury in May 2023 to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He followed that up with another victory over Fury in December, cementing his status as the king of the division.
Usyk's resume also includes two wins over Anthony Joshua and a victory against Daniel Dubois. He caveated his IBF belt after becoming undisputed champion to set up the second Fury fight, but now aims to reclaim it and become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
The road ahead for Usyk includes a WBO mandatory defense against Joseph Parker. He'll also have his eyes on the IBF belt, with Daniel Dubois ordered to face Derek Chisora in an IBF mandatory bout.
As Usyk continues to add to his impressive list of accomplishments, Atlas's high ranking seems more than justified. The Ukrainian's skill, determination, and success across two weight classes have earned him a place among boxing's all-time greats.
