Usyk names the greatest boxer right now - And it's not himself
Oleksandr Usyk named the best boxer in the world (photo: Getty Images)
Despite his achievements, Ukrainian heavyweight boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk acknowledged that another athlete is currently the best boxer on the planet, writes SecondsOut.com.
Who Usyk considers the best boxer in the world
In one of his interviews, Usyk named the person he considers number one pound-for-pound, regardless of weight class.
"For me, pound-for-pound number one is Terence Crawford. I like this man, he's a great fighter. For me, maybe I'm number 17," Usyk said with a smile.
Although many experts and fans consider Usyk the best in the world, since he:
- has never suffered a loss in professional boxing
- won Olympic gold
- became the undisputed champion in the cruiserweight division
- moved up to heavyweight and claimed all four major titles by defeating Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
His status is further confirmed by staying at the top of The Ring's P4P rankings for a year.
Who is Terence Crawford
As for Terence Crawford, whom Usyk named the best, the American has had an extraordinary career. "The Hunter" remains undefeated in the professional ring and has a unique achievement — the title of undisputed world champion in two weight divisions: super lightweight and welterweight.
Crawford was born on September 28, 1987, in Omaha, Nebraska. He began boxing at seven and won several national tournaments in the US before becoming a professional. His pro debut came in 2008, and within a few years, he won the WBO lightweight title.
Crawford gained worldwide fame with his victories in the 140 and 147-pound weight classes. In 2017, he became the undisputed champion at super lightweight, unifying all four major belts – WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO.
In 2023, he repeated that success in the welterweight division by defeating Errol Spence via technical knockout. After that, Crawford moved to the 154-pound category and won another championship title.
Interestingly, Crawford became the first male boxer in history to achieve undisputed champion status in two weight divisions under the modern system (all four belts).
His style is marked by a unique ability to switch between orthodox and southpaw stances, high technical skill, and versatility in the ring.
The boxer comes from a troubled neighborhood in Omaha. Despite a difficult childhood, including domestic violence and disciplinary issues at school, he managed to build a brilliant sports career.
Today, he is also engaged in charity work, particularly supporting youth in his hometown and developing his own boxing academy.
The next major challenge for Crawford is a fight against Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, scheduled for September 13, 2025. This bout will be for the undisputed championship title in the super middleweight division (168 pounds). If Crawford wins, he will become the only boxer in history to achieve undisputed status in three weight divisions.
Usyk – Dubois 2: key information about the fight
The rematch between Usyk and Daniel Dubois will take place on July 19, 2025 (Saturday) at the legendary Wembley Stadium in London. It will be the first time a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship is held at a British venue.
At stake are the titles of the undisputed heavyweight champion: WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and The Ring. Going into the bout, Usyk holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts, while Dubois holds the IBF title.
In their first fight (on August 26, 2023, in Wrocław), Dubois knocked Usyk down with a low blow, which the referee deemed a foul, giving Usyk time to recover. The Ukrainian then went on to win by technical knockout in the ninth round. This led to controversy, but the British appeal did not change the outcome.
Usyk's fitness coach has recently revealed the secrets of Oleksandr's unique training regimen in preparation for the crucial bout.
Earlier, we reported that two undefeated Ukrainians will face off in the undercard of Usyk–Dubois 2.
Also, we informed how much Usyk will earn for the rematch with Dubois.
