How would Oleksandr Usyk have fared against the great heavyweights of the past?
It’s a question worth asking after Usyk’s emergence as this era’s best heavyweight having beaten all his rivals. Two wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois as well as the forgotten scrap against Derek Chisora from five years ago have made the unbeaten two-time undisputed champion Mr Untouchable.
Usyk is poised to return in 2026 with Fabio Wardley among the leading candidates to face him after his stunning stoppage victory against Joseph Parker.
The odds of Usyk ending his career unbeaten, just like heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano did, appear to be in his favour. And in years to come, the Ukrainian will no doubt be judged on his achievements –– but in the world of fantasy matchmaking could the masterful technician have beaten Mike Tyson?
‘Iron’ Mike was a merciless wrecking ball in the 1980s and combined ferocity and speed to produce jaw-dropping wins during his rise to the top of the division.
Lennox Lewis, who got his hands on Tyson in 2002 and beat up the faded star over eight rounds. recently played ‘Winner Stays On’ with the Daily Mail. It began with who would win between Deontay Wilder and Daniel Dubois and eventually reached Mike Tyson vs Oleksandr Usyk. The former undisputed took a moment to pause but he eventually answered.
“Mike Tyson.”
Lewis also picked his former rival to overcome Muhammad Ali’s greatest foe ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier as well as Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury.
