Despite being a significant underdog heading into a potential fight with Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk has been labelled as the world’s best heavyweight.
That’s the verdict of Hasim Rahman, the former world champion who’s seen his profile rise again in recent months due to his son, Hasim Rahman Jr, linked to a fight with Jake Paul.
After defeating Anthony Joshua for a second time last month, Usyk’s goal is to now become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
That mission can only be accomplished with victory over Fury, and although the Brit fighter would start the fight as favourite, Rahman believes that Usyk is the better boxer.
"I think Usyk is the best heavyweight that’s currently fighting today,” said Rahman when speaking to Fight Hype.
“I think Fury imitates Usyk, and he’s had a lot of success with it. Fighting plodding, slow heavyweights [who are not] really boxing like that. Everything Fury can do in boxing, Usyk can do it better.”
Rahman added, “With heavyweights it’s different. Most heavyweights are lazy, and they don’t have that work ethic. With the smaller guys it’s a little different. With Usyk’s boxing IQ, that’s going to play a big, major part. A lot of time the smaller guys IQs kind of cancel each other out."