Image of Oleksandr Usyk at weigh-in with inset of Roy Jones Jr. Credit: Richard Pelham/Huw Fairclough via Getty Images

Roy Jones Jr. gives his verdict on where Oleksandr Usyk ranks among all-time heavyweight greats

Originally posted on Bloody Knockout | By Donal Long | Last updated Jul 26, 2025 2:35 PM ET

Oleksandr Usyk’s latest fight has started a discussion in the combat sports community regarding his ranking among all-time greats.

After Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois to become a three-time undisputed world champion, there is no denying the Ukrainian is a modern icon.

Now with a 24-0 record, Usyk can rightfully make a claim as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world today.

How he compares to legends of the past is a different debate. However, one boxing great has had his say on Usyk’s standing.

Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images

Roy Jones Jr. believes Oleksandr Usyk is ‘definitely’ a top 10 heavyweight of all time

Former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. would be in many people’s lists for the top 10 fighters of all time.

Winning world titles from middleweight to heavyweight, Jones Jr. has a rich history in the sport of boxing.

In a recent interview with Seconds Out, Jones Jr. gave his opinion on where Usyk’s recent performance put him in terms of all-time greats.

“In history, he’d be a good fighter, a great fight actually, because he dominated two weight divisions.”

Jones Jr. went on to add, “To say that you wouldn’t put him amongst the greats would be crazy.”

Despite giving praise to Usyk, Jones Jr. was apprehensive about adding Usyk to the conversation of the greatest heavyweight of all time. “I’m not saying he’s Ali type, I’m not saying he was big enough to beat the Earnie Shavers’ of the world, because we haven’t seen him be hit like that.

“It would have been good to see him in the day with the guys who had the wits and the power. Nowadays, guys either got power, or they got wits. Very rarely you find both together.”

In terms of giving Usyk a ranking, Jones Jr. said, “I think I rank him definitely among the top 10 of all time. But, maybe amongst the top five.”

The former champion then added that fighters such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Lennox Lewis would provide problems for Usyk.

Roy Jones Jr. wants Oleksandr Usyk to fight Joseph Parker next

It is currently unconfirmed who the Ukrainian great will fight in his next outing.

Frank Warren has said that Joseph Parker is next, while the WBO has also ordered a heavyweight fight between the pair. However, the matchup has not been confirmed.

It is a fight that many boxing fans want to see next, including Jones Jr. “I don’t see nobody necessarily beating him, but the challenge I want to see is Joseph Parker.”

Jones Jr. said that Parker ‘knows how to fight like a cruiserweight or a light heavyweight,’ which could be a path to victory for the New Zealander.

“You can’t go out there and try to beat him with big shots and power punches, he’s used to that. You’re not going to catch him like that,” Jones Jr. said.

This article first appeared on Bloody Knockout and was syndicated with permission.

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