Teddy Atlas, the veteran boxing trainer and analyst, has declared Oleksandr Usyk one of the greatest fighters of all time. Atlas shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel 'THE FIGHT' following Usyk's recent victory.
Last Saturday night, Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, London. The win solidified his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion. At 38 years old, the Ukrainian fighter has accomplished something no one else has done before - he's become the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
Atlas, who's trained fighters like Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Alexander Povetkin, couldn't hold back his praise for Usyk. He said:
"He's done it all, he's one of the greats, one of the greatest. He's right up there now, the greatest heavyweights of all time. I never thought I'd be saying that but it has to be said, if you're gonna say the truth."
Atlas's career in boxing spans decades. He's best known for his partnership with Michael Moorer from 1993 to 1997. Under Atlas's guidance, Moorer became the first southpaw to win a heavyweight world title. After his training days, Atlas moved into analysis and commentary, working for NBC and ESPN before starting his own YouTube channel.
Atlas's praise for Usyk comes at a pivotal moment in the boxer's career. There's talk that Usyk might have one more fight before hanging up his gloves. Many in the boxing world, including Atlas, think it might be best for Usyk to retire while he's on top.
But retiring might be a tough call for Usyk, especially after his impressive performance against Dubois. His recent win shows he's still at the top of his game, and he might want to prove himself one more time before calling it quits.
Whatever Usyk decides, Atlas's words cement the Ukrainian's place in boxing history. From cruiserweight to heavyweight, Usyk has proven himself a true champion, and now he's earned a spot among the greatest fighters of all time.
