Are there any areas where you would acknowledge that Usyk has an advantage over Ali as a HW?

Experience against super heavyweights and southpaws.

 

Usyk is a better inside fighter, Ali rarely went to the body.

Usyk has better defense, Ali fought with hands low and leaning back from punches, he got hit a lot.

Usyk is a better counterpuncher.

 

Usyk fights better in the southpaw stance.

Did Ali ever fight a southpaw?

 

He did fight one. A German named Mildenberger. Ali had a bit of a problem with him, but he eventually TKO'd Mildenberger in the 12th (15 round fight). And this was pre-ban Ali at the peak of his powers.

Needless to say, that guy was nowhere near the talent/skill level of an Usyk. Here's a video with highlights from the fight. Pretty great quality, too.

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I did not know that Ali was in prison.

 

Usyk is significantly better than Ali in the southpaw style

 

He also fought Richard Dunn.

 

Yeah Ali couldn't really fight SHW's though they were way rarer before the 1990s.

 

As for the Mildenberger fight.

Ali had a few problems early on but adjusted by the middle rounds and then took over in the fight.

Ali knocked him down 3 times and was a mile ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

You might aswell say Usyk had as much trouble vs Hunter he arguably lost the first 3 or 4 rounds before coming on in the middle and late rounds.

This was my scorecard BTW for Mildenberger fight I actually properly watched it and scored it and my score is in line with the judges aswell.

Muhammad Ali vs Karl Mildenberger

1 Ali
2 Ali
3 Mildenberger
4 Mildenberger
5 Ali 10-8 knockdown
6 Ali
7 Ali
8 Ali 10-8 knockdown
9 Ali
10 Ali 10-8 knockdown
11 Ali
12 Ali wins by TKO

108-98 Ali

 

Same I gave Mildenberger 2-3 rounds.

 

Usyk's work rate is awesome.

 

For the record, Usyk doesn't have more experience against Southpaws. Certainly not in the pros.

Ali stopped two southpaws - Karl Mildenberger and Richard Dunn - in heavyweight title defenses.

Usyk stopped two southpaws - Thabiso Mchunu and Krzysztof Glowacki - at cruiser. Neither of whom were better heavyweights than Mildenberger or Dunn. Karl was actually the #1 heavyweight contender at one point. Mchunu and Glowacki certainly never were.

Also, Ali outpointed vastly experienced three-time Olympian/three-time Olympic medalist Zbigniew Pietrzykowski for the gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. And he fought many southpaws as an amateur.

Usyk, as far as I know, didn't fight any southpaws in either Olympics he fought in or in the World Series of Boxing. He did defeat southpaw Lenier Pero in 2010 and he lost to southpaw Matvdy Korobov at middleweight way back in 2006.

Those are the only southpaws of note I could find with a quick search.

So, it's not like Usyk has "made his bones" fighting southpaws, either. Being a southpaw doesn't mean he's beaten many southpaws.

 

I love me some Ali and I want to say he’s better than Usyk because of what he means to boxing. Same way we love to overrate Prime Tyson because those two and Sylvester Stallone are probably the three most influential people boxing.

If they were to match up peak for peak, Usyk would win quite comfortably, probably lose round 1-4 before adjusting and taking over like he always does. This is no knock on Ali, Usyk just doesn’t lose.

 

Usyk has a great work rate.

But we've never seen it over 15 rounds. Ali was a strong closer in 15-round fights. He often won fights based on his performances in those final rounds.

Unfortunately, Usyk's never fought beyond 12.

The last three rounds - 13, 14, and 15 - USED to be called the championship rounds, because they tended to be reserved for world title fights and lots of guys faded in those final three rounds.

Now, championship rounds are rounds 11 and 12. Lots of people fight 12-rounders before even getting to a world title fight.

It's just not the same.

The WBC literally changed title fights from 15 rounds to 12 rounds because people were "dying" in those rounds 13-15.

15-rounders were a different beast altogether.

So, I could never give the edge to Usyk over Ali in that regard for that reason.

 

Usyk has never fought 15 rounds in his life.

Ali dominated 15 rounders. He won a dozen fights between rounds 13 and 15. Usyk never even went that far a single time.

Lots of fighters in history were great over 12 rounds. A lot of guys led after 12 rounds in the 15-round era and couldn't finish with a win.

Rounds 13-15 were different. In 15-rounders, Ali was a closer.