David Haye has offered his view on whether Oleksandr Usyk, a two-division undisputed champion, should be considered one of boxing’s all-time greats.
Like the Ukrainian, Haye won world titles at cruiser and heavyweight, initially dethroning Jean Marc Mormeck before toppling 7ft giant Nikolai Valuev.
Unlike Usyk, though, the Londoner never became a dominant force in the land of the giants, where Wladimir Klitschko ultimately reigned supreme for just under two decades.
Had there been a Klitschko in this era, it may have been a different story, but Usyk nonetheless faced the toughest available opponents on a consistent basis.
This is evidenced by his two respective wins against Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, who all attempted, and ultimately failed, to solve the mind-manipulating southpaw puzzle.
Even before his heavyweight reign, Usyk cemented his greatness at 200lbs by edging a majority decision against Mairis Briedis and then comprehensively outpointing Murat Gassiev.
It is therefore difficult to question the 39-year-old’s reputation as an all-time great, hence why Haye told The Stomping Ground that anyone who attempts to do so is highly mistaken.
“People, in my opinion, who understand boxing – the Sweet Science – know Usyk is an all-time great.
“He’s never lost, he’s won every belt at cruiserweight, every belt at heavyweight, was a world amateur champion, Olympic gold [medallist], WSB [World Series of Boxing] champion … he’s done everything humanly possible, against all of the toughest fighters in and around this era.”
With Usyk coming off an 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven in May, he is expected to have one more outing before calling time on an illustrious career.
