Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, has publicly praised Oleksandr Usyk, calling him a "great" champion and a fitting heir to the heavyweight throne. Usyk, the Ukrainian fighter who clinched the undisputed heavyweight crown in 2024 by defeating Tyson Fury, has quickly become the benchmark for the modern era’s heavyweight elite.
His unbeaten record, highlighted by two victories over Fury, two wins against Anthony Joshua and two triumphs over Daniel Dubois, cements his status as the pre‑eminent heavyweight of his generation. Lewis, who has spent time observing Usyk’s training camp, affirmed his admiration in an interview with Sky Sports. "Yes, Oleksandr Usyk is a great champion, a great person, he trains hard," the British legend said, adding that the Ukrainian’s dedication and sacrifices have earned him widespread respect. "He's done it all.
He's sacrificed. He's got a great family and he deserves his flowers." Usyk’s career, while still in its prime, is already approaching a phase where many champions contemplate retirement. The fighter is slated to face kickboxing sensation Rico Verhoeven in a unique WBC title bout scheduled for Egypt, a match that underscores the evolving nature of heavyweight competition.
Yet, as history shows, stepping away from the sport is rarely straightforward for champions, especially those who have reached the pinnacle. The heavyweight division has seen its share of retirements and comebacks.
Tyson Fury, for example, has retired and un‑retired multiple times, illustrating the difficulty of staying away from the ring once a fighter has tasted the sport’s highest rewards. The upcoming 2026 boxing calendar promises a slew of marquee events, and fans are already speculating about potential match‑ups that could further define the era. Lewis himself, one of boxing’s all‑time greats, once faced a similar internal battle.
After achieving every conceivable accolade—Olympic gold, multiple world titles, and historic victories—he found it hard to resist the lure of the squared circle. "Many times I felt like jumping back in the ring. But focus, discipline kept me out," Lewis reflected.
He recounted how his post‑retirement role as an HBO commentator kept him close to the sport, making the transition away from competition even more challenging. "I said I've done everything already, I don't need to prove anything anymore.
So I stayed out of boxing," he explained. Lewis’s own career finale was marked by a dramatic encounter with Vitali Klitschko, a bout that would later be remembered as a turning point for both fighters. The fight was brutal, with Lewis recalling his trainer Emanuel Steward’s advice: "Listen, you can beat the present and the future with this fight." Lewis accepted the challenge, and despite the fight’s ferocity, emerged victorious. "It wasn't a pretty fight but I still won," he said, emphasizing the grit required to triumph at the highest level.
Reflecting on his legacy, Lewis expressed satisfaction with having become the dominant heavyweight of his era. "That was my aim. From when I started boxing I said I wanted to be the greatest heavyweight," he said. He drew inspiration from Muhammad Ali, aspiring to achieve a similar breadth of 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." Usyk’s ascent mirrors many of these aspirations. By unifying the heavyweight titles, he has joined a select group of fighters who have held every major belt simultaneously—a feat not accomplished since Lewis’s own reign. His disciplined approach to training, combined with a strategic mind inside the ring, has allowed him to adapt to a variety of opponents, from the slick southpaw style of Fury to the power‑driven assaults of Joshua and Dubois.
Beyond the ring, Usyk’s personal life reflects the stability that Lewis highlighted. He maintains a close‑knit family, often crediting their support for his mental fortitude during grueling training camps and high‑pressure fights. This balance between personal grounding and professional ambition is a hallmark of champions who sustain long, successful careers. Looking ahead, the heavyweight landscape remains dynamic.
While Usyk’s upcoming clash with Verhoeven promises to blend boxing and kickboxing disciplines, it also serves as a testament to the sport’s evolution and the willingness of top athletes to test themselves beyond traditional boundaries. For Lewis, watching a new generation push these limits reaffirms his belief that the heavyweight division will continue to produce compelling narratives and legendary figures.
In summary, Lennox Lewis’s endorsement of Oleksandr Usyk underscores a passing of the torch from one era’s titan to the next. Usyk’s unbeaten record, his victories over the sport’s elite, and his commitment to both family and training embody the qualities that Lewis himself championed throughout his storied career. As the heavyweight division moves forward, fans can anticipate that Usyk will continue to add chapters to his already impressive legacy, while the sport as a whole benefits from the high standards set by both past and present champions.