Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, has publicly praised Oleksandr Usyk, declaring him a fitting successor to the throne of heavyweight boxing. In Lewis’s view, Usyk embodies the qualities of a "great" champion, both inside and outside the ring, and his achievements merit recognition as a worthy heir to the sport’s storied lineage. Usyk’s rise to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division has been nothing short of historic.
In 2024 he secured the undisputed heavyweight crown by defeating Tyson Fury, a victory that marked the first time since Lewis himself that a boxer held all four major heavyweight titles simultaneously. This accomplishment placed Usyk in a rarefied club, echoing the dominance that Lewis once displayed during his own reign.
The Ukrainian fighter remains unbeaten, and his résumé reads like a who's‑who of contemporary heavyweight talent. He has bested Fury twice, dispatched Anthony Joshua on two occasions, and also recorded two victories over the powerful Daniel Dubois.
These wins have solidified Usyk’s reputation as the pre‑eminent heavyweight of his generation, a claim reinforced by his technical skill, relentless work ethic, and strategic acumen. Lewis, who has observed Usyk’s training camps firsthand, offered his endorsement in an interview with Sky Sports. "Oleksandr Usyk is a great champion, a great person, he trains hard," Lewis said, emphasizing not only the boxer’s physical preparation but also his character and dedication. He added, "He's done it all.
He's sacrificed. He's got a great family and he deserves his flowers," underscoring the personal sacrifices that accompany a career at the sport’s summit. Usyk’s journey, however, is not without its challenges. He is approaching the latter stages of an already demanding career, with a highly unusual WBC title bout scheduled in Egypt against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven.
The prospect of facing a combat sports star from a different discipline adds an extra layer of intrigue to Usyk’s legacy‑building endeavors. Yet, the heavyweight division has long been a realm where retirement is often a temporary pause; champions frequently return to the ring, drawn by the lure of competition and the desire to cement their place in history. Tyson Fury, for instance, has retired and un‑retired multiple times, a pattern that illustrates the difficulty of stepping away from the sport permanently.
This reality underscores the point that even after achieving the pinnacle, heavyweight champions often find it hard to stay away from the spotlight. Looking ahead, the boxing calendar for 2026 promises a series of marquee match‑ups that could further shape the heavyweight narrative. Fans can anticipate a blend of established stars and rising contenders, each seeking to carve out their own chapter in the annals of the sport.
Platforms such as NOW offer contract‑free streaming options for those eager to follow the action, while podcasts like Toe2Toe provide weekly analysis and insight. Reflecting on his own career, Lewis acknowledges that he, too, faced the temptation of a comeback.
"Many times I felt like jumping back in the ring. But focus, discipline kept me out," he confessed. The former champion described the internal struggle of stepping away from a sport that had defined his life. "I wanted to retire and say I'm not coming back and it was hard to stay out of the ring.
HBO gave me a job as a commentator and I was there in front of boxing again and I was trying to get away from boxing. I said I've done everything already, I don't need to prove anything anymore. So I stayed out of boxing," Lewis explained.
Lewis’s own retirement was marked by a memorable victory over Vitali Klitschko, a fight that was both brutal and decisive. He recalled his trainer Emanuel Steward’s words: "Listen, you can beat the present and the future with this fight," to which Lewis responded, "Well, I'll take it." The bout was far from pretty, but it cemented Lewis’s status as a fighter capable of overcoming any obstacle, present or future. For Lewis, achieving the status of the greatest heavyweight of his era was a lifelong ambition.
"From when I started boxing I said I wanted to be the greatest heavyweight," he said. He drew inspiration from Muhammad Ali, aspiring to win accolades across continents and organizations. "I wanted to be just like Muhammad Ali and win all the accolades along by getting up to the top, so if it was European, if it was British, if it was this, if it was that, as long as I won them all," he affirmed. In summary, Lewis’s endorsement of Usyk highlights a passing of the torch within heavyweight boxing.
Usyk’s unbeaten record, his victories over the sport’s elite, and his relentless pursuit of excellence echo the standards set by legends like Lewis and Ali. As the heavyweight division continues to evolve, fans can look forward to further epic confrontations, whether they involve seasoned champions defending their legacies or emerging talents striving to claim their place among the greats. The narrative of heavyweight boxing remains vibrant, driven by the dedication of athletes like Usyk and the enduring respect of icons such as Lennox Lewis.