Is Oleksandr Usyk the Muhammad Ali of Modern Era? Eerie Similarities Makes Fans Come to Terms With the Unthinkable in Heated Debate

There are only a few who could ever hope to reach the god-like status Muhammad Ali holds among most boxing fans. However, a tweet of late has brought to light some unusual similarities between Ali and the recently crowned undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk, pushing fans into debate-land.  

In his prime, Ali was the man who fans, boxing pundits, and other boxers looked up to. He defeated the likes of Archie Moore, Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, and so many others even before recording his first loss to Joe Frazier in 1971, which, notably, a few years later he managed to avenge. Not to mention, he had already achieved the undisputed status by this time before being stripped off it in 1967. He also became an undisputed champion again in 1974 after defeating George Foreman. Usyk like Ali is also an undefeated undisputed heavyweight champion. So, the question is, what are the other similarities between Ali and Usyk? 

Oleksandr Usyk and Ali: Strange coincidence or divine ordinance!

In a thought-provoking post today, Boxing Kingdom asked the question: “Is Oleksandr Usyk the modern day Muhammad Ali?” They pointed out some interesting parallels: both fighters share the same birthday (January 17th), stand at a similar height (6’3″), and even weigh in around the same fighting weight (220 pounds)! While birthdays and height are undeniably fixed, it’s noteworthy that both Ali and Usyk have maintained close to the 220-pound mark throughout their reigns in the heavyweight division. Both are also Olympic gold winners. Also, both are also deeply religious praying to God inside the ring before every match.

While the parallels between the two boxers may strike eery, their differences are also notable. Take their fighting styles, for instance—they’re diametrically opposed. Ali was known for his flamboyant showmanship, often taunting his opponents, whereas Usyk maintains a laser focus on his objectives, eschewing any antics inside or outside the ring. Usyk hardly ever trash-talks his opponents. Not only that. Despite both being technically proficient, Ali’s footwork inside the ring was a thing of beauty something that Usyk, like most other heavyweights, lacks.

However, Boxing Kingdom’s post was enough to launch people into a frenzy as they started taking sides, trying to justify their opinions in the comment section of the post. 

Fan thinks Tyson Fury is more like Muhammad Ali

Whenever Muhammad Ali is part of a conversation, it’s bound to gain traction and this post was no different, as users started pouring in to express their opinions. One user agreed with all the similarities, suggesting Usyk is also the best boxer of the current generation. The same is further backed by Usyk’s recent rise to the no. 1 pound-for-pound spot in Ring Magazine’s ratings. 

Even the next user agreed, going as far as to highlight that Usyk is now undisputed in not just the heavyweight division, but also in the cruiserweight division. Not to mention, he has never been knocked down. Whereas, Ali suffered his first knockdown at the hands of Henry Cooper in 1963, though he ultimately triumphed with a fifth-round knockout.

Another user correctly pointed out that Ali’s style and personality are more aligned with Tyson Fury‘s in multiple ways. Both Ali and Fury are renowned for their flamboyant showboating, colorful trash talk, and adept capturing of media attention, making these traits a hallmark of their personas. Usyk, however, is neither flamboyant nor a loudmouth.

Meanwhile, this diehard Muhammad Ali fan jumped in, wishing people would stop drawing comparisons to ‘the greatest of all time.’ With unwavering conviction, the user boldly declared that there will never arise another figure quite like Ali. In a way, that’s true—the times were different, the circumstances were different, and let’s face it, even Fury isn’t on the same level as Ali in turning a fight into an entertainment powerhouse.

The next user agreed with the previous user, suggesting Usyk is nowhere near Ali’s level, but the user seemed pleased because someone of Usyk’s size is dominating modern ultra-heavyweights. The thing is, over the years, heavyweight boxers have grown in size tremendously. Take Mike Tyson, for instance. He was among the shortest heavyweights, and now there are fighters like Fury, and Anthony Joshua, who are mammoths in comparison to old heavyweights. 

However, another user wholeheartedly concurred with the assertion, firmly declaring Ali and Usyk as the epitome of boxing greatness, attributing their status to impeccable footwork and unwavering determination. Not to mention, people have hailed both fighters as champions, regardless of what the pundits say. 

With that said, is Oleksandr Usyk the modern Muhammad Ali? In some ways, yes, in many other ways, no! They are from different generations, and are known for their unique quality, so merging their achievements in the sport would be discrediting their uniqueness. Regardless, what do you think about the similarities?