Oleksandr Usyk is clearly the best fighter of the 21st century uncontested.

x2

 

Networks and promoters should, its the last thing fans should be judging a boxer on, in fact it shouldn't even come into it.

 

Exactly, Serge.

I've found that the Floyd the Best Ever, Yo! types are often particularly bothered by Loma and Usyk. I'm sure that's a coincidence.

(And before you Floyd jock-straddlers get your panties in a pinch, I've also noted that there is also a segment of fans who single out Floyd because he's a black American).

 

So what if he is taking PEDs? Haven't Whyte, Fury, Ortiz, Povetkin, Miller, Alvarez etc all been busted for PEDs?

 

It is an interesting question, who is the greatest fighter so far the 21st century? Maybe if we put together a top 10 list real quick of who we would be judging amongst, that would help. So far I'm seeing Mayweather, Pacquiao, hopkins, Jones jr, Canelo, Loma and who else are we considering?

 

It might be difficult to understand for the autistic types with their Excel spreadsheets on jabs and power punches but some people like to feel emotions and excitement when watching sports.

 

Yet it is only you who is struggling to understand. None of what you're talking about even comes into the equation of who the best is.

 

If he was you wouldn't have to say it (for no one to take you seriously anyway).

 

Amateurs: Usyk won gold and had a staggering 300+ fights, Mayweather won bronze with less than 100 fights. But to be fair, Mayweather definitely got robbed.

Divisions: Floyd climbed through more divisions (5) vs Usyk (2), but it's a lot harder for larger men who weigh above 175 lbs to climb up divisions. Especially because HW is an open division. Still, Floyd gets credit for this and it's not exactly easy to go from feather to jr middle either, especially when you're a smaller guy with lower punching power.

Championships/record: Floyd won more, both undefeated. Usyk does have an overall edge in quality since he became undisputed not once, but twice. Floyd somehow never achieved that once, but had longevity and quantity.

Resume: here's how I'd compare their best wins.

Fury/Pac: Both are A level elite opponents. On paper, Pac achieved more than Fury, but Pac was more past his prime and had a hell of a lot of mileage but the time he fought Floyd. Fury was undefeated and a gigantic man having 40 lbs and several inches of height/reach over Usyk. I'd say even.

AJ/Oscar: again, the problem for Floyd is his opponent is excellent on paper with a good resume and good skills, but Oscar had a lot of mileage. AJ was a lot fresher than Oscar, but also less skilled. You have to give Usyk a lot of credit here tho as he had many, many doubters given the size difference, the fact his HW resume was so thin, etc and yet he won clearly twice.

Dubois/Canelo: This one I think I'll give the edge to Floyd who was older than Usyk was when he took Canelo to school and did so with ease. Usyk had a lot of trouble with Dubois, most notably the infamous contested body shot. Funnily enough, both Dubois and Canelo have made a huge resurgence in their careers after these embarrassing losses.

Chisora/Mosley: Here we're noticing a pattern where Mosley is obviously more skilled with a better record than Chisora, but Mosley was around 40. Still, I think this win holds a little more value and Chisora who lets be honest, is a good, brave, fighter but never more than B level even at his best.

Gassiev/Cotto: Slight edge Floyd. Cotto wasn't done yet as he proved by winning another title and is overall better than Gassiev.

Hatton/Briedis: Edge to Floyd.

So the trend with Usyk is, he's either got very high quality wins taking the scalps of multiple prime, undefeated fighters (who are also sometimes bigger than him), or he fights guys that are pretty mediocre or forgettable. With Floyd, the trend is opponents who are superb on paper but are past their best, green, or mediocre.


Overall: Comparing their resumes, it's a quality vs quantity type of situation. Floyd dominated at the pro level longer, but has a few dodgy decisions, never became undisputed, and his best opponents often have asterisks*. With Usyk, his resume isn't particularly deep, but when he does step up in class he's an overachiever with some very high quality wins.

For now, I would give the edge to Floyd. His longevity, championships, defensive skill, and making so many good fighters look terrible give him an edge. Usyk is phenomenal, a pleasure to watch with a great career, great skills, one of the best ever. Arguably already a top 10 HW and definitely top 3 cruiser. But best fighter of the 21st century? Absolutely not.

Aside from Floyd, These are just a few 21st century fighters I'd rank above Usyk:

Lennox Lewis
Roy Jones
Manny Pacquiao
Bernard Hopkins