Three Ukrainians dominate heavyweight rankings: Usyk nears global legend status
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
Oleksandr Usyk has climbed to fourth place in the historical ranking of European heavyweights, according to BoxRec.
Usyk conquers the historical ranking
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk ranks fourth among European heavyweights in the 140-year history of professional boxing.
A year ago, the Ukrainian held fifth place; however, his victory in the rematch against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia last December and his knockout of Daniel Dubois at a packed Wembley this July helped him climb up the rankings.
Usyk managed to surpass the legendary German Max Schmeling, who now holds fifth place.
Three Ukrainians in the top four
Three Ukrainians make up the top four of the ranking: Oleksandr Usyk is in fourth place, followed by Kyiv's current mayor, Vitali Klitschko (career 1996–2012), with his brother Wladimir Klitschko (1996–2017) in second.
The leader of the ranking remains British boxer Lennox Lewis (1989–2003), whose last fight against Vitali Klitschko was recognized as the heavyweight bout of the decade.
Among other boxers in the top 10 are Usyk's former opponents, Anthony Joshua (7th place) and Tyson Fury (9th place). The Ukrainian champion has defeated both British fighters twice.
In sixth place is Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson, the 1959 world champion, while Italian Primo Carnera, who fought 103 professional bouts between 1928 and 1946, holds eighth place.
Top nine European heavyweights according to BoxRec:
- Lennox Lewis – 41-2-1, career 1989–2003, United Kingdom
- Wladimir Klitschko – 64-5-0, career 1996–2017, Ukraine
- Vitali Klitschko – 45-2-0, career 1996–2012, Ukraine
- Oleksandr Usyk – 24-0-0, career 2013–2025, USA
- Max Schmeling – 56-10-4, career 1924–1948, Germany
- Ingemar Johansson – 26-2-0, career 1952–1963, Sweden
- Anthony Joshua – 28-4-0, career 2013–2024, United Kingdom
- Primo Carnera – 89-14-0, career 1928–1946, Italy
- Tyson Fury – 34-2-1, career 2008–2024, United Kingdom
