This week all time great heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis called Oleksandr Usyk a worthy champion but how would they have matched up?
Many believe today’s heavyweight era is weak compared to that of the likes of Lennox Lewis and Holyfield and Tyson’s and before that people like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier.
Usyk is really a blown up cruiserweight who has beaten everyone but next month fights a kickboxer for some strange reason all of a sudden.
Here’s how Lewis and Usyk would have matched up tale of the tape wise.
Tale of the Tape: Lennox Lewis vs Oleksandr Usyk
| Stat | Lennox “The Lion” Lewis | Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 59 (born 2 Sep 1965) | 38 (born 17 Jan 1987) |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in / 196 cm | 6 ft 3 in / 191 cm |
| Reach | 84 in / 213 cm | 78 in / 198 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| Pro Record | 44 fights: 41-2-1, 32 KOs | 24 fights: 24-0, 15 KOs |
| Weight | 246 lb / 112 kg vs Holyfield 1999 | 227½ lb / 103 kg vs Dubois II 2025 |
| Nickname | The Lion | The Cat |
| Hometown | West Ham, London, UK | Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine |
| Titles Held | Former undisputed heavyweight champion: WBC, WBA, IBF | Current undisputed heavyweight champion: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring |
Key differences:
- Size: Lewis has a 2-inch height and 6-inch reach advantage. He was also ∼19 lb heavier in his prime.
- Style: Orthodox power-puncher vs southpaw technician. Lewis used his jab + right hand to control range; Usyk relies on footwork, angles, and ring IQ.
- Experience: Lewis retired in 2003 at 38 with 44 fights. Usyk is 38 now with 24 fights and still active.
Lewis himself said Usyk is “in the same group as Muhammad Ali” and has a “very high ring IQ” — but noted “he’s not a natural heavyweight, he’s a built-up heavyweight”.
Lewis makes a good point but Usyk can only fight what is there in today’s times.
Who knows what will happen Usyk this year but next month is his latest defense against Rico.
In a time where outstanding fights are being made regularly in boxing where the best are fighting the best for the heavyweight champion Usyk to be fighting a kickboxer in his latest boxing heavyweight title fight, all of a sudden, is an odd ball situation to say the least.
It will be at the iconic Pyramids in Egypt though which is good for the sport of boxing to expand more into Africa and the Middle East regions.
