Is Usyk a top 10 HW of all time...?

Usyk has one of the best spree of wins in Heavyweight history while giving up every advantage and usually fighting on enemy soil if that's not worthy of being top ten I don't know what is

 

Usyk is as old as Foreman when he started his comeback.

If you want to cut the 90s out, it’s 3-1 (plus the Young loss) and 1-0. In other words, still worse than Usyk.

*edited due to Ali not being a reigning champion

 

Too early for me to give him that distinction. And frankly I don’t know if he has enough time left to add the kind of depth his resume would need to break that barrier. He’s almost 38 years old and averages maybe one fight per year. Additionally the division isn’t exactly loaded at the moment with legacy building opponents

 

Top 20 for sure and maybe lower top 10.

 

He's 4-0 over two of the big three of the previous era. The third (Wilder) is a shell of himself, and a win over him would be virtually meaningless at this point.

 

CONTEXT!

 

In fairness, I excluded Foreman’s loses to Ali and Briggs (forgivable) and also to Young (totally unforgivable). And I counted his laughable defenses against Roman and Schultz via robbery.

I hope that clarifies the context.

 

Usyk may very well have the same record if he fought who Foreman did. I’m not positive Usyk beats Frazier. I’m not really sure how he would do against the short swarming types with a ton of power like Marciano, Frazier, Tyson. All of whom were excellent body punchers and uppercut specialists (he’s surely capable of winning just suggesting idk how he would do). Usyk is a great fighter, not a good one. I actually think Foreman would be his worst nightmare though.

 

At just 7 fights at heavyweight I have hard time putting Usyk in the top 10. Just doesn’t seem right. Too much history in the sport. However if he fights a few more bouts, and I hope he doesn’t, at 38 the wheels can come off at any time he could slip into the 10. You know whose spot I think he could take, if you’re someone that has him in your top 10, would be Rocky Marciano.
The majority of Marciano’s ledger is filled with mostly regional level talent until he faces Rex Layne. Marciano’s entire admission into the top 10 is based on his championship run and undefeated record. If Usyk hangs around and makes say two more defenses and retains his unbeaten record. I could see a strong argument with him being placed over Rocky.
Joshua 2x
Fury 2x
Dubois
And add two more names

vs Walcott 2x
Heavy version of Charles 2x
Cockell
Moore
Lastarza

Honestly I would take Usyk’s run. And that’s not even factoring in - the cruisers Usyk beat would be heavies back in the Rock’s day and all of them would have been better than anyone Rocky beat until he meets Layne.

 

Imagine almost losing to Chisora losing 25 rounds in 7 total fights and being proclaimed the GOAT? Fun times we live in.

Jimmy Young would outpoint Usyk by more than he outpointed Foreman. Lyle hit harder than anyone Usyk has fought.

 

Just about, for me.
Something like this:
8. Tyson
9. Frazier
10. Usyk
11. Bowe

 

I like Usyk a lot but I don’t think he’s quite top 10
yet although the idea doesn’t offend me… does he deserve a place now alongside (or in some cases above) the likes of Ali, Louis, Holmes, Lewis, Foreman, Frazier, Tyson, Marciano, Holyfield, Johnson, Dempsey, W Klitschko, Liston, etc?

I honestly don’t know. I mean, it’s not an outrageous position to take but it really depends on whether you rate Fury (and to a lesser extent) Joshua highly enough for those wins to put him over those heavyweight greats.