{"id":786898,"date":"2026-09-30T00:26:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T00:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/786898\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T00:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T00:26:08","slug":"david-haye-gives-his-verdict-on-whether-oleksandr-usyk-belongs-among-boxings-all-time-greats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/786898\/","title":{"rendered":"David Haye gives his verdict on whether Oleksandr Usyk belongs among boxing\u2019s all-time greats"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Haye<\/a> has offered his view on whether Oleksandr Usyk<\/a>, a two-division undisputed champion, should be considered one of boxing\u2019s all-time greats.<\/p>\n

Like the Ukrainian, Haye won world titles at cruiser and heavyweight, initially dethroning Jean Marc Mormeck before toppling 7ft giant Nikolai Valuev.<\/p>\n

Unlike Usyk, though, the Londoner never became a dominant force in the land of the giants, where Wladimir Klitschko ultimately reigned supreme for just under two decades.<\/p>\n

Had there been a Klitschko in this era, it may have been a different story, but Usyk nonetheless faced the toughest available opponents on a consistent basis.<\/p>\n

This is evidenced by his two respective wins against Tyson Fury<\/a>, Anthony Joshua<\/a> and Daniel Dubois<\/a>, who all attempted, and ultimately failed, to solve the mind-manipulating southpaw puzzle.<\/p>\n

Even before his heavyweight reign, Usyk cemented his greatness at 200lbs by edging a majority decision against Mairis Briedis and then comprehensively outpointing Murat Gassiev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is therefore difficult to question the 39-year-old\u2019s reputation as an all-time great, hence why Haye told The Stomping Ground<\/a> that anyone who attempts to do so is highly mistaken.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople, in my opinion, who understand boxing \u2013 the Sweet Science \u2013 know Usyk is an all-time great.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s never lost, he\u2019s won every belt at cruiserweight, every belt at heavyweight, was a world amateur champion, Olympic gold [medallist], WSB [World Series of Boxing] champion \u2026 he\u2019s done everything humanly possible, against all of the toughest fighters in and around this era.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Usyk coming off an 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven<\/a> in May, he is expected to have one more outing before calling time on an illustrious career.<\/p>\n