Oleksandr Usyk is appreciated almost unanimously amongst boxing fans for his remarkable career and elite skill, but there is one former cruiserweight world champion who believes the Ukrainian to be an ‘average southpaw’.

After claiming the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Usyk excelled as a cruiserweight in the professional ranks, becoming the first four-belt undisputed champion of the division by trumping the likes of Krzysztof Glowacki, Mairis Briedis and Murat Gassiev on away soil.

Usyk then defended the undisputed crown against Tony Bellew before moving up to heavyweight and sensationally replicating the feat by dethroning Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – and also coming out on top in rematches against both men.

Now, as Usyk’s career reaches its final chapter, with a farewell fight currently being discussed, fans are beginning to reflect on his inspirational success.

The longest-reigning cruiserweight champion of all time, Johnny Nelson, seems less impressed, telling the Fight Your Corner podcastof his opinion that Usyk is and always has been an ‘average southpaw’.

“I have said, Oleksandr Usyk is an average southpaw. I’m not saying that he is an average fighter, but as a southpaw, his style was average. You get outstanding southpaws that make you think, ‘wow, you have got it’, Pernell Whittaker, people like ‘Naz’ [Hameed]outstanding southpaws who use that style to the best of their ability.

“I didn’t say that he was average, as a southpaw he was average. In regards to when he was fighting Tony, to this day I thought that he [Bellew] was doing really well, I thought that he was ahead on points.”

Usyk’s career finale is likely to be a bout with former WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilderwho he has been keen to face in order to complete his hit-list of rival heavyweights in his generation.

Gervonta Davis’ prolonged inactivity is set to continue but it seems that he will have a host of options upon his eventual return, with a fellow unbeaten knockout artist being the latest to agree to a showdown with ‘Tank’.

Winless since June 2024, Davis’ only fight since has been a draw against Lamont Roach Jrwith legal issues continuing to get in the way of his return and causing him to lose his WBA lightweight title after being demoted to ‘champion-in-recess’.

After initially being linked to bouts against both Floyd Schofield and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, it hasnow reported that the Baltimore-born operator will not fight this year, instead declaring that Davis’ return will take place in early 2027.

However, whilst seemingly unavailable for the remainder of the year, Davis has next called for a bizarre clash with newly-crowned WBA bantamweight titleholder, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, according to the latter’s trainer, Robert Garcia, as per BoxingScene.

“You know who else he called out? He didn’t put it on social media but we have the messages he sent, he called out Bam. I’m telling you guys. He called out Bam and said ‘I want to fight you next. I’m going to talk to Al Haymon to make it happen.’”

Garcia then went on to address the obvious elephant in the room, given the four-division weight difference between the pound-for-pound stars, but maintained that Rodriguez accepted the call-out without hesitation.

“I don’t even know if [Davis] was thinking of the weight difference from 118lbs [bantamweight] to 135 [lightweight]but ‘Bam’ didn’t hesitate. He messaged back, ‘All right, let’s do it.’”

Whilst Rodriguez is willing, it is expected that the Texan will instead square-off with Naoya Inoue in a challenge for the undisputed super-bantamweight throne during the first quarter of 2027.

Moses It will hurt is hoping to take over the heavyweight division in the coming years, but in the eyes of heavyweight icon Lennox Lewisthere is one heavyweight that the youngster should avoid facing.

Now that Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his three world titles in the division, Itauma is extremely well poised to capitalise, having been called out by newly crowned WBA ruler Murat Gassiev, ordered for a IBF title shot, but also linked to a shot at new WBC champion Agit Kabayel.

As for the WBO marble, Itauma is currently sat as the mandatory challenger in the division, expected to be ordered for a fight against the victor of Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley’s pending rematch.

As a result, should Itauma come through his meeting with Filip Hrgovic unscathed next monthit seems as though a world title bid will be next.

Whilst Itauma is trying to prove himself as the best heavyweight on the planet, three-time world champion Lewis told iFL TV that he should steer clear of Usyk, despite the Ukrainian being 39 years old.

“Moses is a great, upcoming, young fighter. He has got a lot of grit, he throws some good punches. I think that there is a time where he is going to have to make that move but the time isn’t now, he has got a lot of time left, [he should] take his time.

“No rush[forUsyk[atallIfIwashimIwouldwaituntilOleksandrUsykisretiredandknowthat‘Iamrulingthisheavyweightscenerightnow’buttogoagainsthimrightnowisabittooearly”[forUsyk[atallIfIwashimIwouldwaituntilOleksandrUsykisretiredandknowthat‘Iamrulingthisheavyweightscenerightnow’buttogoagainsthimrightnowisabittooearly”

Itauma-Hrgovic takes place on Saturday, August 29with the 21-year-old Briton set to top the O2 Arena bill as he headlines in the U.K. capital for the first time.