Is Usyk a Top 10 Heavyweight of all time?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Hi-Tek-Lomo, Jul 26, 2026.


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  1. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    Not entirely sure what you mean by this. He had a claim to the lineal title makes sense to me, having a "lineal claim" to all the belts doesn't. Could you clarify?
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:05 AM
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:05 AM
    #91
  2. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Between 2005 and 2009 he beat IBF and WBO titleholders in Chris Byrd and Sultan Ibragimov. He also beat Chagaev who wasn't a title holder but was a unbeaten WBA Champion In Recess who never lost the belt in the ring (it was won by Valuev whom he already beaten btw). Also, Samuel Peter was a WBC title holder for a while, after Wlad already beaten him. Wlad unified the WBA later, but failed to grab WBC, despite the fact he beat the titleholder before he won the belt. So he had a "lineal" claim to the belt. Sort of like when Mike Weaver defeated John Tate for the WBA belt, The Ring crowned Larry Holmes their champion, as he already beat Weaver and they argued he won it retroactively in the ring.

    Anyway if we're talking cleaning out the division, Wlad did just that in sort of a elimination tournament between 2005 and 2009, with only exception being Vitali, who came back shortly before the "finals". He continued to defeat top contenders, despite them not having belts to their name.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:12 AM
    MaccaveliMacc, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:12 AM
    #92
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  3. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    The greatest.

    But not the best.
     
    cuchulain, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:15 AM
    cuchulain, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:15 AM
    #93
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  4. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    Ok I understand what you mean now. At the end of the day, Wlad never beat Vitali and I can't say someone cleared a division when they didn't beat the number 2 guy. You can't say "He cleared the division except for fighting the second best of his era" If you have to say "except.." then he didn't clear the division. This really comes down to me most likely having a higher standard for this term because I believe it's very overused to the point that it doesn't mean much anymore. If you have slightly lower standards that allow Wlad to fit in, then that's fine and doesn't bother me but by my understanding, I personally can't say he cleared the division.
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:17 AM
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:17 AM
    #94
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  5. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    P4P you clown
     
    ellerbe, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:53 AM
    ellerbe, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:53 AM
    #95
  6. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    It was a genuine question, not sure why you're so grumpy.
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:57 AM
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 9:57 AM
    #96
  7. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Don’t **** with me
     
    ellerbe, Jul 28, 2026 at 10:24 AM
    ellerbe, Jul 28, 2026 at 10:24 AM
    #97
  8. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    Lmao
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 10:28 AM
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 28, 2026 at 10:28 AM
    #98
  9. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    No, absolutely not. Beating AJ, Fury & Dubois do not get you that high.
     
    George Crowcroft, Jul 28, 2026 at 11:06 AM
    George Crowcroft, Jul 28, 2026 at 11:06 AM
    #99
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  10. DeathAdder

    DeathAdder New Member Full Member

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    No, his wins are aging like milk on a hot summer's day.
     
    DeathAdder, Jul 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM
    DeathAdder, Jul 28, 2026 at 11:15 AM
    #100
  11. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Because not being knocked down by a headshot throughout your career is so incredibly rare, let alone not having been so whilst fighting at the elite level for as long as Usyk has, a career of over 370 fights amateur and pro, fighting a murderer's row of KO artists and legit bangers like he has, giants, savage punching giants, in their backyards and on the road, even when long past his prime at almost 40 y/o, and whilst not being a cheetah or an octopus. In fact, the vast vast majority of fights, including the vast vast majority of legends and greats have been knocked out, knocked out multiple times or TKO'd multiple times.

    Just think how common headshot KDs are on the cards we watch every weekend? How common KOs and TKOs are on them?
     
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM
    #101
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  12. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    It would be just my luck for Usyk to get chinned or dropped by The Dosser and I actually give The Dosser a much better shot of doing it vs this version of Usyk than a younger one who he would stand no chance whatsoever against

    But it still doesn't matter because for that never to have happened to Usyk already at 39.5 y/o fighting who he has, at the level he has for so long, the punchers he's fought, the giants he's fought, in their backyards and on the road is amazing :D
     
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:38 PM
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:38 PM
    #102
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  13. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Seriously contemplating erecting an electrified barbwire fence around the Classic forum to keep the dinosaur-worshipping boxing nostalgists and paleontologists from escaping from their grotty little cells and venturing over here and contaminating us with their nostalgia bias and snobbery.

    If I wasn't Born Again I'd actually do it

    Usyk is the GOAT. Deal with it :deal:

    Back to the Classic you go husband of Mildred
     
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM
    #103
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  14. ubareem

    ubareem Member Full Member

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    Boxing must be the most nostalgia-driven combat sport out there. You generally don't hear MMA fans deny weight issues, sports science advancements, or whatever.

    People bringing up Rico (a 195cm 120+kg elite kickboxer) to slate Usyk makes me lol. Athletic beasts like that didn't even compete during Ali's era.
     
    ubareem, Jul 28, 2026 at 2:42 PM
    ubareem, Jul 28, 2026 at 2:42 PM
    #104
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  15. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    True

    Yeah, also Rico was 25lbs heavier than by far the heaviest Usyk we've ever seen

    If Usyk weighed the still too heavy 226-227 he was for his previous 2 fights it would be like 31-32lbs

    And if he came at the 221 he did for AJ I & II and Dubois I which is the maximum he should weigh at HW that's like 38lbs and Rico was a ripped and very lean 258.

    He's a huge guy. Belly might be bigger but Rico is the biggest in shape HW Usyk has fought and he's fast, extremely physically strong with comically huge feet and hands, awkward as hell, and anyone who says he's not a puncher needs to listen to the sound of his shots and how they violently twisted Usyk's head and neck upon impact, and his gas tank was unreal for him to be moving nonstop around the ring all night like a near 260lb featherweight
     
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM
    Serge, Jul 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM
    #105
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