Who would Usyk have to beat to be a top 1-5 HW Of All Time?

It wouldn't because CWs who could contend at HW would still fight at HW. Like Bridgerweight at 200-225 someone 175-200 can fight at HW. If you insert CW into the 1950s and 1960s it would attract a very low quality of fighter. Maybe someone like Folley or Machen would go to CW but it would be after they lost to Liston. The guys who actually thought they had a chance would fight at HW unless they were content dominating CW. But only 1 guy can be the big fish in the small pond.

Superheavyweight was added in this era and Buster Mathis won it and the division went kaput because SHWs didn't want to compete at SHW. Same as in the 30s.

 

Amos Lincoln who was 6'2 is one you missed. He was ranked 6th by Ring in 1965.

 

I'll add it retroactively to the big thread where I initially posted these stats.

 

Style also matters, right? Usyk cleared the division but didn't dominate his opponents. The fights with AJ and Fury were close, and after all, AJ and Fury were probably past primes and rose to fame against a 40-year-old Wlad who was still competitive. What if Wlad were 30?
This isn't a particularly distinguished heavyweight era. It's interesting, but not at a very high level. Ask Ngannou. Can anyone imagine a prime Holmes or Mike Tyson fighting him for their life at the full distance?

Usyk is excellent; he's a top 10 fighter, I think. Top 5? I don't think so.

 

The era isn't good enough for single names. He would have to dominate and clean out the division for around 5+ years imo, which isn't happening.

 

Good post.

 

Find someone with a time machine and go back.

 

Virtually everyone on the other general world boxing forum 24 seems to think Usyk is the best heavyweight ever.

 

If he beats Parker and Kabayel, he has a case for Top 5 imo.

 

His heavyweights wins are being well over-rated.
The (arguably close) wins against Fury are not better than Mike Tyson beating Tucker and old Holmes.
His wins against Joshua and Dubois are like Mike Tyson beating Bruno and Ruddock twice each.
And I don't think Mike Tyson is top 5 despite his resume extending to far more ranked heavyweights than that.

 

The remarkable thing is how British boxing promoters and broadcasters have managed to out-do the AmerIcans in hyping the heavyweights. With the help of Saudi Arabia the last few years. And Usyk has benefited immensely.

 

Evander Holyfield knocking out Buster Douglas is a better win than any Usyk has at heavyweight. And is not even rated as a great win because Douglas was a out of shape. But an out of shape Fury is regarded as a near deity. Douglas was a "one hit wonder" but his resume is probably equal or better than Fury's in numbers of contenders he win against.

 

To have a GOAT argument I think he needs 3-4 more years on the top.