There is no doubting the incredible talent of heavyweight king (WBA/IBF/WBO) Oleksandr Usyk, nor is there any doubting how his talent and his skills are more than capable of living up against the big guys of the sport. Usyk, at 6’3” and a little over 220 pounds, is arguably the best heavyweight in the world right now – only Tyson Fury is in any real position to be able to argue otherwise; and if these two do fight, it will be Fury’s sheer size and bulk that will be his biggest assets, not his boxing brain. Simply put, Usyk’s boxing brain is, well, it’s Lomachenko-like. Usyk’s ring I.Q is like no other active heavyweight’s. Usyk is really in a class of his own.
Not too long after Usyk’s brilliant win over Anthony Joshua, the question was asked: is there anything Usyk cannot do? After some head-scratching, the sole minus to Usyk’s game that this writer could come up with was the fact that he lacks one-punch KO power as a heavyweight, he cannot take a big dude out with one shot (at least he hasn’t yet shown that he can, but might be there be even more to Usyk’s still improving game!?) That aside, Usyk can do it all. He can sure take a punch, he proved that in the Joshua fight. Usyk can hit with stunning accuracy, he has a gas tank to die for, he has incredible accuracy and he can hit with sting and pop. Usyk, too has superb foot movement, a good variety of punches, and he can fight going backwards as well as coming forwards.
Usyk also has the old-school mentality the great ones had. There is no ducking and dodging from the southpaw Ukrainian, nor does Usyk shy away from taking the biggest fights of his career in the other guy’s backyard. Basically, there is nothing to not like about Usyk. But is he the best fighter in the world today?
Pound-for-pound lists are always subjective, and they can also be a lot of fun. Right now, we boxing fans have some superb fighters to applaud and cheer on. We have Canelo Alvarez, we have Naoya Inoue, we have Terence Crawford, we have Josh Taylor, we have Errol Spence. And we have Oleksandr Usyk. Canelo is the consensus choice for pound-for-pound #1 and not too many readers of this site seem to have a problem with that. Canelo has, after all, won belts at four weights and he has some excellent wins on his record. But if Canelo is #1, then Usyk is #2.
Having cleaned out an entire division after a mere 16 fights, Usyk has now gone on to win three of the four major heavyweight titles after just THREE fights. And Usyk, as we know, has skills that are truly majestic. Can anyone beat him? Again, maybe Fury – the 6’9” approx 270 pound man-mountain can – but even here, Usyk is capable of making those who have the temerity to doubt him eat their words the way he made Joshua eat those straight left hands.
For what it’s worth, here is a Top-10 pound-for-pound list you may or may not agree with.
1: Canelo Alavarez
2: Oleksandr Usyk
3: Naoya Inoue,
4: Terence Crawford
5: Josh Taylor
6: Errol Spence
7: Kazuto Ioka
8: Teofimo Lopez
9: Juan Francisco Estrada
10: Tyson Fury
Deontay Wilder is a bum. All he has is an occasional one punch haymaker. Almost every punch he throws is haymakers. He has absolutely no boxing skills whatsoever. He got rocked by Fury for 7 rounds. Before Fury Wilder had not 1 contender on his resume. So he was a paper champion. Wilder is one dimensional. Usek will school Wilder just like Fury did. Period. Wilder needs to just go back to Tuscaloosa and call it a day. He is a bum. Only think he did right was the awesome outfit he came to the ring in.
I except your appolagy. So we agree that Deontay Wilder is the pound for pound number one fighter. Above Oleksandr Usyk.
Canelo doesn’t count because he keeps on failing the drug tests for steroids and so does fury.
1. Deontay Wilder
2. Luis Ortiz
3. Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk is a trimmed up , well conditioned, solid champion. Conditioning is what made the difference, and good fundamentals. And he seems to be a fine family man of faith. But he is not of the.caliber of either Luis Ortiz and definitely not Deontay Wilder.
Could someone explain to me why the boxing establishment is so hateful towards Deontay Wilder. Why wasn’t Deontay Wilder put in the position suggesting pound for pound best when Deontay Wilder is so obviously feared and avoided.
It’s because Deontay Wilder has god in him.
God really does select certain people to anoint, and it is a curse to be blessed. It’s a genuine curse cause people can feel it in you, I know because I was anointed too. People get together and attack Deontay Wilder in ways that defy logic. It makes no common sense.
Deontay Wilder lost a lotta love, money, and historical legacy because of that fixed fight. Millions and millions of dollars and Deontay Wilder just doesn’t let it bother him. When I lost millions, I looked up to Deontay Wilder and it motivated me to not get distracted.
Canelo and fury have tested positive for steroids so that disqualifies them. I don’t see why fury should even be considered for pound for pound. He can’t box, you experts are always saying that. Watch Deontay Wilder totally outclass fury, totally outbox him. All he does is copy black fighters and prancing around the ring his backside shaking and sticking out his tounge. That’s not boxing. He’s slow and lacks power except when he has loaded gloves.
Of course not, what a silly question. Oleksandr Usyk is one of the best pound for pound heavyweights of course Deontay Wilder is far superior pound for pound.