Legendary boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas believes there is just one single fighter competing within the sport’s current era who will ultimately secure a place among the greatest pugilists of all time.
Throughout a storied career spanning decades inside the sport, Atlas has worked alongside an elite stable of world champions and legendary fighters. Among his notable charges are former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer and former world light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, providing Atlas with a firsthand, insider perspective on what it truly takes to reach the pinnacle of professional boxing.
After stepping away from his daily responsibilities in the corner as a head coach, Atlas transitioned seamlessly into the world of sports broadcasting. Over the past three decades, he has established himself as one of the definitive and most respected voices in boxing, lending his sharp analytical mind, unfiltered commentary, and deep historical knowledge to major networks including ESPN, HBO, and Showtime.
Recently, during an episode of his popular YouTube podcast, THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, the Hall of Fame broadcaster took a deep dive into boxing history. He broke down his comprehensive list of fighters he considers to be the greatest of all time, a prestigious category featuring legendary icons such as Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
However, the conversation eventually shifted toward the modern era. When asked if any contemporary fighter possesses the rare combination of skill, resume, and historical significance to eventually crack his exclusive list, Atlas did not hesitate to name reigning unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. According to Atlas, the Ukrainian maestro has successfully cemented his status as one of the defining fighters—if not the single greatest competitor—of his generation.
Elaborating on his assessment, Atlas explained the immense difficulties modern fighters face when trying to match the legendary paths forged by icons of the past. He pointed out that while other current pound-for-pound stars possess extraordinary talent, the structural landscape of modern boxing prevents them from replicating the historical journeys required to enter the all-time great conversation.
"It would be pretty hard, the era is different," Atlas said on his podcast. "Usyk might be the only one, [Naoya] Inoue is great, [Terence] Crawford is great, but they’re not going to have an opportunity to go down the roads that these fighters went down, those roads and opportunities don’t exist any more, that era is gone. You have to go down some of those roads to get on this list."
Atlas’s commentary highlights a recurring theme in modern sports debate: how changing promotional landscapes, fractured sanctioning bodies, and risk-averse business models make it increasingly difficult for contemporary athletes to build the defining, risk-laden resumes of yesteryear. Yet, despite these systemic modern challenges, Usyk has managed to construct a professional career that most fighters could only ever dream of achieving.
The undefeated Ukrainian superstar has enjoyed a remarkably decorated run at the highest levels of the sport. Most notably, Usyk stands as just the second fighter in the entire history of professional boxing to capture the undisputed championship in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. In achieving this extraordinary feat, he matched a milestone previously accomplished by only one other boxing legend: the legendary former heavyweight and cruiserweight king Evander Holyfield.
By conquering the cruiserweight division and collecting all major world titles before moving up to the heavyweight division to conquer giants and claim undisputed status there as well, Usyk has ticked every historical box required by traditionalists like Atlas. As the sport continues to evolve through shifting eras and changing promotional boundaries, Atlas’s endorsement cements Usyk’s legacy as a rare bridge to a bygone era of true fighting greatness.
