LONDON – Oleksandr Usyk’s dominant performance in the fifth round against Daniel Dubois on Saturday has further solidified his status as the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis. Usyk’s left hook left Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) crumpled in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, clinching Usyk’s second reign as the undisputed world heavyweight champion. Early in the fifth round, Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) also knocked Dubois down with ease.
If Usyk manages to defend his title in upcoming fights—potentially a trilogy bout with Tyson Fury in April 2026 or another defense against former WBO titleholder Joseph Parker—he will cement his legacy as the greatest heavyweight over the past two decades. Moreover, Usyk could be regarded as the best cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight in 30 years, reminiscent of legends like Dwight Muhammadqawwi and Evander Holyfield from the mid-1980s.
Usyk was the first undisputed cruiserweight champion before transitioning to heavyweight between 2016 and 2018. He has successfully defended his heavyweight titles five times against top-tier opponents, including former and current champions. His accomplishments in the heavyweight division surpass his cruiserweight career, having beaten top fighters such as Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, and Anthony Joshua—twice. Dubois contended that he landed a legal body punch in their first fight two years ago, but that claim was overshadowed by the dominant performance Usyk displayed in forcing a ninth-round TKO in their rematch.
Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs), the WBO mandatory challenger, is set to face Usyk next, as confirmed by Queensbury Promotions’ Frank Warren. Although Parker is in prime form and has revived his career with wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole, it’s hard to imagine him threatening Usyk’s growing legacy. Parker, a former WBO champion, won the belt in 2016 and lost it in a unification bout with Anthony Joshua in 2018.
Usyk’s record is even more impressive when compared to other two-time world champions like Fury and Joshua. He boasts 13 world title fight victories and an Olympic gold medal from 2012. While renowned predecessors Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko posed challenges due to their size and reach, Usyk’s skill and resilience set him apart. The Klitschko brothers dominated heavyweight boxing between 2004 and 2015, holding all the belts at various times, with Wladimir’s famous jab-and-grab style proving nearly impenetrable during his reign.
Though Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko’s combined accomplishments surpass Usyk’s in terms of titles defended, Usyk’s name shines brighter, as he remains unbeaten with multiple unifying world championships. He is the first recognized undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, who ruled with a record of 41-2 with 32 KOs, beating legends such as Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, and the Klitschko brothers.
Like Lewis and the Klitschkos, Usyk began his professional journey on the strength of an Olympic gold medal, and his career appears to be ending on a historic high.
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Fan Take: Usyk’s rise not only revives the heavyweight division but sets a new benchmark of skill and dominance that fans crave. His potential upcoming fights, especially against Tyson Fury, could redefine heavyweights’ era and bring thrilling moments to the sport’s future.
