Plenty of boxing fans the world over always remember, when the day rolls around each year, that today, January 17th, marks the birthdate of the great, indeed the incomparable Muhammad Ali. But now, after what we have witnessed from Oleksandr Usyk, the date seems set to be remembered and celebrated as the birthdate of the magnificent Ukraine warrior as well. And Usyk has so many times spoken about how Ali is one of his heroes, one of his inspirations.
Today, as special as Usyk has been twice, defeating first Anthony Joshua and then Tyson Fury to become the heavyweight king, fans find themselves wondering who would have won in a Dream Fight between prime Ali and prime Usyk. Both men not only share the same birthday, but they are also the same height at 6’3”, have the same reach at 78 inches, and have the same optimum fighting weight of around 220 pounds.
It goes without saying that both men’s ring performances showcase a ton of boxing IQ and sheer brilliance. It would indeed have been a fascinating ring encounter to see the Ali of, say, the Cleveland Williams fight (this Ali performance is often listed as his career-best, even if Williams was a faded force, having been shot in the stomach by a cop two years before his big chance against “The Greatest”) against the Uyk of, say, the first Fury fight.
Over 15 rounds or 12, under today’s rules and scoring system, or under the 1960s rules and scoring system – who would have won? It may well have been a quite beautiful ballet of a fight, with enough cleverness and subtle moves to make a true appreciator of The Sweet Science go insane with joy. There would, too, have been some spiteful punching from both sides. Both Ali and Usyk have great defense, as well as a good chin for when a punch does get through (although the peak, pre-exile Ali was rarely hit at all). It’s likely this fight would have gone all the way.
Ali is simply unmatched in terms of hand and foot speed, and while Usyk is fast, razor-sharp, and clever with his punch placement, it’s easy for an Ali fan to imagine the current king falling behind the former three-time king by a slight margin. Then again, Ali, quite amazingly, faced just two southpaws during his entire pro career (these lefties being Karl Mildenberger and Richard Dunn) – might Usyk’s stance have given Ali some problems?
Dream Fight scenarios are not to everyone’s taste or interest, so let’s just agree that Ali and Usyk are two exceptional fighters, two men who showcased how to behave like a true champion both in the ring and out of it. Both men gave/give back to the needy, to the suffering. Ali truly transcended the sport, while Usyk seems to be on his way. Both men made/make this often brutal sport elegant and oh-so inspirational.
Today, Ali would have been celebrating his 83rd birthday. Sadly, the great one passed away back in June of 2016. Today, Usyk turns 38. How much more magic might Usyk deliver before his boxing career comes to an end? Can Usyk exit the sport a winner, with an undefeated record, the way Ali was unable to do? Maybe.
“When I think about Muhammad Ali, it’s not just boxing,” Usyk said prior to going in with Fury the first time. “It’s the path he took, his nature. He fought for his rights, his nearest and dearest.”
Usyk, too, has done a lot of fighting for people other than himself.
