Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight king, has publicly praised Oleksandr Usyk, calling him a "great" champion and a fitting successor to his own storied legacy. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Lewis reflected on Usyk’s rapid rise and the significance of his achievements, noting that the Ukrainian fighter has cemented his place at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. Usyk made history in 2024 when he finally secured the undisputed heavyweight crown by defeating Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated showdown.
That victory marked the first time since Lewis’s own reign that a boxer held all four major heavyweight belts simultaneously, a testament to Usyk’s skill, determination, and strategic brilliance inside the ring. Since that landmark win, the Ukrainian has remained unbeaten, compiling an impressive résumé that includes two victories over Fury, two wins against former champion Anthony Joshua, and a pair of triumphs over the powerful Daniel Dubois. Each of those fights showcased Usyk’s versatility—his ability to box from a distance, slip punches, and unleash precise combinations when the moment called for aggression. Having spent time observing Usyk’s training camp, Lewis said, "Oleksandr Usyk is a great champion, a great person, he trains hard.
He's done it all. He's sacrificed. He's got a great family and he deserves his flowers." In Lewis’s view, Usyk’s work ethic and personal character are as noteworthy as his in‑ring accomplishments.
The former champion emphasized that Usyk’s dedication to his craft mirrors the discipline that defined Lewis’s own career, making the Ukrainian a natural heir to the heavyweight throne. Usyk’s career, however, is entering what many analysts describe as the twilight phase. He is slated to face kick‑boxing legend Rico Verhoeven in an unconventional WBC title bout scheduled to take place in Egypt.
The matchup, which blends traditional boxing with elements of kick‑boxing, is unusual for a heavyweight champion and signals that Usyk is still seeking fresh challenges even as he approaches the latter stages of his professional life. The fight also underscores a broader truth about heavyweight boxing: true champions rarely stay retired for long.
The lure of the spotlight, the love of competition, and the financial incentives often draw even the most seasoned veterans back into the ring. Fury, for his part, has retired and un‑retired multiple times, a pattern that illustrates how difficult it can be for elite fighters to step away permanently. This cycle of retirement and return is a recurring theme in the sport, especially among heavyweight greats who feel they still have unfinished business or simply miss the adrenaline rush that only a live bout can provide.
Looking ahead to 2026, boxing fans are already speculating about the sport’s biggest upcoming events. Schedules are being drafted, promotional deals are being negotiated, and streaming platforms are positioning themselves to deliver fight nights without traditional contracts. Services like NOW are promising contract‑free streaming, while podcasts such as Toe2Toe continue to dissect every angle of the sport, from technique to business. Lewis himself, despite having achieved everything a boxer could possibly aspire to, admits that the temptation to return to the ring has lingered throughout his post‑retirement years.
"Many times I felt like jumping back in the ring," he confessed, "but focus, discipline kept me out. Let me tell you it was hard. 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." His decision to finally step away was reinforced by a memorable victory over Vitali Klitschko, a fight that was both brutal and symbolic. Lewis recounted how his trainer, Emanuel Steward, encouraged him to seize the opportunity, saying, "listen, you can beat the present and the future with this fight." Lewis accepted the challenge, acknowledging that the bout was far from pretty but ultimately rewarding. "It wasn't a pretty fight but I still won," he said, highlighting the grit required to overcome a future heavyweight legend.
Reflecting on his own legacy, Lewis said his ultimate goal was always to be recognized as the greatest heavyweight of his era, a dream inspired by icons like Muhammad Ali. "From when I started boxing I said I wanted to be the greatest heavyweight. I wanted to be just like Muhammad Ali and win all the accolades 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 explained.
His words reveal a deep-seated ambition that drove him to achieve the pinnacle of the sport. In summary, Lewis’s endorsement of Usyk serves as both a tribute to the Ukrainian’s accomplishments and a passing of the torch to the next generation of heavyweight greats. Usyk’s unbeaten record, his victories over the sport’s most formidable opponents, and his willingness to explore novel fight formats all point to a champion who embodies the same relentless pursuit of excellence that defined Lennox Lewis’s career.
As the heavyweight division continues to evolve, fans can look forward to more historic moments, whether they involve seasoned veterans returning to the canvas or rising stars forging new paths in the ever‑dynamic world of boxing.