Oleksandr Usyk draws comparisons with Evander Holyfield
'The Cat' vs 'The Real Deal'
Both Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield were undisputed cruiserweight champions who made the tricky transition up to heavyweight, but what else do these history-making pugilists have in common?
In the crusierweight division, Usyk left with a record of 16-0, very close to Holyfield's slightly superior 18-0.
Their KO ratios as cruiserweights were almost identical – Usyk's at 75%, Holyfield's at 78%.
11 of Usyk's knockouts came in the second half of the contest, racking up 125 rounds in the cruiser division, whereas Holyfield had 10 KOs in the first half of his 18 crusierweight contests, totalling to only 95 rounds.
Holyfield won all the marbles (at the time) with the WBC, WBA and IBF to become undisputed in 1988. Usyk acheived the very same feat but by this time an additional governing body had been created and he became the first undisputed champion in a four-belt era with the WBC, WBA, IBF and the WBO.
Both their maiden opponents in the heavyweight division had 38 pro wins on their winning records. Usyk's first heavyweight opponent was Chazz Witherspoon (38-3) and Holyfield's was James Tillis (38-13-1).
Both those opponents chose to retire from the one-sided fights – Witherspoon at the end of round seven, Tillis after round five.
Holyfield weighed in very light at 202lbs for his heavyweight debut, Usyk was slightly heavier at 215lbs. Both weights are considered very low for the heavyweights.
Usyk's first heavyweight world title fight came in his third contest in the top division, Holyfield's in his seventh. Usyk clashes with unified champion Anthony Joshua in London on September 25, 2021; Holyfield defeated Buster Douglas in his first ever world heavyweight title fight in 1990 via third-round KO.
Holyfield is just half an inch shorter than Usyk, who stands at 6'3".
Both possess a 78" reach.
As amateurs, Holyfield lost 14 bouts (won 160) and Usyk lost 15 (won 335).
Both represented their countries in the Olympics, 28 years apart. Holyfield claimed bronze in the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Usyk was a gold medallist at London 2012.
20 Things you didn’t know about Oleksandr Usyk
Use the code BBN for 10% off all purchases at Fit-Bag
HÖRFA Menswear are proud sponsors of British Boxing News