If Parker beats Usyk is he automatically an all time great

Of course

But first he has to actually be given his shot

 

I'd maybe say borderline but it might depend on how he won.

He'd also need to keep defending his title against serious challengers too, just like Usyk did.

 

He's done enough, yes.

 

ATG is a term reserved for the absolute best. I don't think so. He lost to Whyte and Joyce. Those guys aren't very good. Bad blemishes. Joyce has no defense and is one of slowest fighters I've ever seen.

To overcome losses like that you have to dominate like Wlad did after his losses (also lost to better fighters, except Purrity).

 

I realize that he was 35, but what about Holmes losing to a LHW?

Or Liston having his jaw broken by a LHW?

Dempsey losing to Meehan?

Tyson losing to Douglas?

Lewis losing to Rahmen and McCall?

Just curious what you think.

 

Do you think other than the losses you mentioned those guys didn't dominate significantly more than Parker has?

ATG is a bit much.

 

No. If that is your metric, you are right. But guys like Walcott and Schmeling sneak in there as ATGs, and didn't dominate the era.

Good clarification, though.

 

Most of the guys who dished out those upsets would wipe the floor with any version of Parker.

 

I think this is manifestly not true. Spinks is beloved enough that I think one gets away with saying that, but Meehan? Marshal? Naw, man.

 

McCall, Rahman, without a doubt.

 

Let's give him to the end of his career to make the point. I feel you, but both Rahman and McCall had more embarrassing losses than Joe Joyce, if I remember correctly.

But I get it.

 

Laughable. Of course not.

 

Parker is not getting kudos for beating Usyk, even if he somehow outclasses the champ people will be saying that it was the "real" Usyk and that he was old/injured etc.

As a Parker fan though, a win over Usyk would go a long way, but I still think he'd need to beat Joshua in a rematch, or beat a champ or two of the next generation like Itauma.

 

I actually don't know about that. I can see Parker beating them. Especially McCall. Rahman Parker is an interesting fight. But even if they won, wipe the floor with Parker? That's too much. They are not that good.