List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Who has Usyk surpassed?

Oleksandr Usyk has become a two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion, further underlining his claim to be among the division's greatest ever names to step into the ring.

The sport of boxing has been blessed down the years with so many extraordinary fighters in the heavyweight division . With styles, personalities, hearts, chins and power, they have earned the love of the fight family.

Modern heavyweights can often find themselves ridiculed as pale imitations of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalized since the turn of the century.

However there is no denying that the current crop — a field that includes Usyk, Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder among others - have combined to produce the most exciting spell in the top glamour division for a long time.

For example, Usyk capping his 2024 with another points victory over Tyson Fury — the second time by unanimous decision — was a Herculean feat. The Ukrainian making it 2-0 over Dubois by knocking out the British heavyweight  in their rematch only further signals his generational greatness.

He is an all-time great undoubtedly. Who has he surpassed? And what about Fury, have those two narrow defeats to the Ukrainian denied him a spot in the top 10, despite being a generational great himself?

I've listed the 10 best heavyweights of all time, in no particular order. That means this is not a ranking from 1 to 10 ; rather the 10 who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut.

Rocky Marciano

Getty Images

A staggering 49-0 record — 43 of which by knockout — and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time.

Plus, he’s the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Unless … perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that.

Oleksandr Usyk

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Still undefeated, Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) has the distinction of being the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the modern four-belt era and now the only two-time undisputed heavyweight crown holder of this era, too.

The Ukrainian counts two points wins apiece over former unified champs Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, further asserting his dominance. Plus, he has now added two knockout destructions of Daniel Dubois .

He took a split-decision win over Fury in May 2024 and made it a more decisive unanimous decision over the "Gypsy King" in December. And took a ninth-round TKO of Dubois in August 2023 and made it a fifth-round KO of "Triple D" on July 19, 2025.

His place on the Top 10 is now cemented.

Against Joshua, Usyk defeated the British fighter by unanimous decision in September 2021, before producing a split-decision win over AJ in August 2022.

This is all after coming up from cruiserweight where he also clinched an undisputed crown.

Joe Louis

Getty Images

Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis’ wrath.

George Foreman

(Getty Images)

Scoring a pair of second-round TKOs of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton are a sample size of how terrifying Foreman was in his era.

Defeating a 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45 back in November 1994 to once again be crowned as heavyweight champion demonstrated how a heavyweight’s power is the last to leave his hands. Well, at least Foreman’s hands.

Joe Frazier

Getty Images

“Smokin’ Joe” was an absolute buzzsaw. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. To be “The Greatest,” Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best.

Larry Holmes

Getty Images

Behind that crisp, piercing jab of his, Holmes enjoyed an eight-year run as world heavyweight champion, defeating the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Muhammad Ali along the way. Can’t overlook Holmes’ place in heavyweight history.

Mike Tyson

(Getty Images)

Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didn’t fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so that’s not too shabby

. Look at the fear Tyson compounded with ferocious punches for Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock to name a few amidst his reign of terror during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s.

In more recent times, Deontay Wilder and his 10 consecutive title defenses demonstrated his own feared punching power and greatness that shouldn't be overlooked, either.

Evander Holyfield

GettyImages

The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfield’s victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore.

Lennox Lewis

(Getty Images)

A three-time world heavyweight champion, Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield (essentially twice), laid Mike Tyson flat on his back via a devastating knockout and let Vitali Klitschko know that he’s not to be messed with as part of his polished resume.

Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career.

Muhammad Ali

(Getty Images)

When talking “The Greatest” heavyweights, Ali’s name reigns supreme.

Whether it was avenging his loss against Joe Frazier with two victories over his rival, taking the steam out of George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle or earning hard-fought wins over the rugged likes of Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Ali’s GOAT legacy resides on the heavyweight throne as the best.