Paulie Malignaggi thinks Oleksandr Usyk might be the best boxer ever. The former world champion turned analyst shared his thoughts after Usyk's recent win over Daniel Dubois.
Malignaggi, known as "Magic Man" during his 16-year career, held world titles in two weight classes. He fought big names like Shawn Porter, Ricky Hatton, Danny Garcia, and Miguel Cotto before retiring in 2017 and becoming a commentator.
Usyk, the current undisputed heavyweight champion, is 38 years old and from Ukraine. He just knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, London. This win made him the first boxer to be undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight twice.
On his YouTube channel 'PaulieTV', Malignaggi explained why he thinks Usyk could be the greatest:
"Oleksandr Usyk could be the greatest of all time. Soviets were not turning pro until the 90s. Heavyweights are bigger now. Lefties are more common now. Old-era fighters didn't have to deal with Soviet-era fighters."
Malignaggi points out how boxing has changed. Soviet fighters started going pro in the 1990s. Heavyweights have gotten bigger. There are more left-handed fighters now. These changes make it harder for today's boxers.
Usyk's win over Dubois on Saturday night showed he's the top heavyweight of his time. People think he'll have one more fight before retiring.
Malignaggi's comments highlight how impressive Usyk's achievements are in today's boxing world. The Ukrainian champ has proven himself against tough competition in a challenging era for the sport.