How does Usyk’s HW era compare with Holmes (1978-1985) and Klitschko (2004-2015)

Hard to say, I think Holmes era had more depth. Fighters bit more skilled, but less size

Holmes obviously has way more fights as a heavyweight and still was competitive in the 90s long past his best

As a heavyweight Usyk has become undisputed, but Holmes was the man for years

I don't know where to place them All time, both are great, but Holmes definitely the greater hw with longevity and ranked wins

I do think wlad ruled a weaker era though. Still an ATG but less so than the other 2. Wlad definitely falls short all time against both, especially when you factor in usyk at CW

 

2015-2024 was Fury's era and Usyk came in a sniped it.

 

Holmes era was weak and imo short.
He beat:
shot ali
past prime norton
Prime Shavers
Prime whiterspoon
Prime Cooney
Lost to Spinks lhw twice
Lost to tyson
Beat Prime mercer

That's quite good but not atg material, let's be honest

Wlads run was very long and his opposition was imo similar to Holmes but way more fights

Usyk beat one atg twice and one hof twice and an actual beltholder once. All younger and way bigger.

Usyks competition is imo way tougher .

1. Usyk
2. Wlad
3. Holmes

 

ATG?? Fury or Aj?

 

The only atg in this generation is Usyk wtf ? This era of heavyweights were underrated and now they're overrated, I can't wait when Dubois, aj and Fury get smashed by the new guns.

 

Holmes and Wlad ruled for years without ever beating their main rivals.

I mean Wlad beat Chagaev, Haye and Povetkin, but obviously he never fought Vitali.

Holmes beat Norton, Cooney and Ali but he never once fought the WBA holders and he vacated his WBC in favour of weak defences.

No one really questions Holmes or Wlad as the top HW of their eras, but Usyk has fully unified, and beaten the top 3 HWs, which the other two never did.

I do think Usyks era is stronger than those two though.

AJ, Fury, Dubois, as well as Parker, Zhang, Bakole, Kabayel, Wilder, this is a very good era.

 

Fury of course
Aj will be hof

 

I agree, off the top of my head. I'm old enough to remember a lot of Larry Holmes fights. Of all the heavyweight champions in history, I"m really getting the feeling that Holmes has become possibly the most underrated. I'm wondering if his personality has/had something to do with it. He reigned as number one for many years, great fighter but perhaps too bland out of the ring? I'd go :
Holmes era
Usyk era
Klitschko era
In terms of greatness and quality of the fighters themselves, pound for pound :
Usyk
Holmes
Klitschko

 

Holmes and WladKlit eras were both eras in which the best did not fight the best, Holmes because he did not unify and declined to fight his #1 contender, and Klitschko because the second best was his brother and they split the era.

This is actually one of the very few eras when the best fights the best, and it should be remembered as the third best era ever.

 

I suspect Holmes and Wlad beat Usyk....and both of their reigns surpass his...so far...on length and variety of styles beaten...Usyk is a wonderful fighter but I can't help but feel all this GOAT and elevation to almost mythical status is a wee bit premature? I don't rank AJ or Fury as ATG material.

 

Wlad and Holmes have the longevity
Usyk has the quality, but lack a few fights now. If he beats Kabayel, Opetaia, Parker and a young good prospect like Itauma he will definitely surpass them
For now I would say that they are all fairly close if we take in account Usyk cruiserweight resume.
Talent wise Holmes is the number one, poetry in motion

 

How was it a Fury era when he didn't fight between Nov 2015 and July 2018, wasn't a title holder between Oct 2016 and Feb 2020 and only defeated 2 Top 10 guys of the era?

 

Wlad was the title holder 2 years before Vitali came back back and the champion for 3 years after Vitali's last fight. They actually only split 4 years, so not even the majority of Wlad's reign.

That's kinda unfair to Holmes looking at what actually happened. In 1980-81 his number 1 contender was the guy he already beat and that was more important than Weaver having the WBA strap. Nobody cared about the unification as Holmes was seen as the rightful champion. It's like saying Usyk HAS TO beat Dubois again now. I mean, yeah, it would be nice, but it's not necessary. He beat the number 2 contender in Cooney. After that, his number 1 contender was Dokes, but that fight would have never happened as Don King promoted them both and wanted to keep them unscaved. After that, he tried to fight Coetzee and even signed the contract, but the fight fell through.

After that, it's open season for the criticism as he was cherry picking easy fights.

 

Fury almost lost to an MMA fighter and is 36 years old and past his prime aswell.

Joshua hasn't beaten anyone of note for years and has been brutally beaten up twice and knocked down multiple times by Ruiz unremarkable opponent and Dubois who he was a considerable favourite against.

Yes Usyk is also past his prime now but it seems like people exaggerate those wins simply because they're big Heavyweights. If any other supposed top fighter almost to an MMA fighter and was 36 years old most wouldn't be hyping that up as some amazing win.

Like for example Fury was older than Norton and his recent form was very poor but yet you're saying Norton was past his best his best. But Norton on the other hand had beaten Jimmy Young, undefeated Duane Bobick in 1 round, and most felt he was very unlucky not to get the nod vs Ali in their 3rd fight. So he was far and away considered the number 1 Heavyweight at that time and his recent form was very good.