Has reigning heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk carried out sufficient to go down as one of many heavyweight greats? Most followers will doubtless reply sure to this query, but one revered analyst who has been across the sport for years does query Usyk’s heavyweight resume—no less than he questions it considerably.
Kellerman Fires a Shot at Usyk’s Legacy
Max Kellerman, talking on Inside The Ring, stated that whereas Usyk deserves to go down as a pound-for-pound nice of the game – this, after all, as a result of all of the work Usyk did when boxing as a cruiserweight, unifying the 4 belts, taking fights on the street, ducking no person – he hasn’t carried out sufficient great things at heavyweight. No less than not in comparison with Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, and another heavyweight kings.
Kellerman factors out that Usyk, although he holds huge wins over Tyson Fury (twice) and Anthony Joshua (additionally twice), has not overwhelmed too many prime 10 contenders. Kellerman’s level is that Ali, for instance, took on each worthy prime 10-ranked heavyweight contender, and Ali beat them. Usyk wants to show again the problem of some extra heavyweight contenders, in Kellerman’s opinion.
The “Skinny Resume” Debate Begins
“Usyk has change into overrated as a heavyweight champion, traditionally, and underrated as a pound-for-pound man, traditionally,” Kellerman stated. “However as a heavyweight, the resume, whereas it’s glorious on the prime, it’s a little bit skinny. He hasn’t beat prime 10 heavyweights, one thing like that. Even for Usyk’s place in historical past, when wanting again on the resume, he bought Fury twice, he bought Joshua twice, Parker shall be a type of guys the place even when they struggle and Usyk wins…we carry up Joseph Parker to buttress Anthony Joshua’s resume. Once you take a look at guys like Ali, it’s not simply that he beat Frazier and Foreman and Liston and Norton. He beat Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, Henry Cooper, and Doug Jones. He beat so many prime fighters. Evander Holyfield, the identical factor….It makes a distinction, I feel.”
So, do you agree with Kellerman right here? Does Usyk have to do extra to go down as an ideal, not pound-for-pound, however as a heavyweight nice particularly? Usyk might not have made too many defences in opposition to top-10 contenders, however then once more, is there anybody Usyk has ducked? You could possibly say Parker and Agit Kabayel, however give Usyk time; he might properly accommodate these two subsequent yr.
Can Usyk Nonetheless Bulk Up His Legacy?
Usyk has stated he plans to struggle till he turns 41. In his remaining time within the ring, Usyk might fatten that heavyweight resume. However once more, does he want to take action in your opinion?
