Canelo Alvarez doesn’t believe Oleksandr Usyk would have been able to defeat Muhammad Ali in a fantasy matchup between two of boxing’s greatest heavyweight champions.
The debate has become increasingly common as Usyk continues adding to one of the most accomplished resumes in modern boxing. The unbeaten Ukrainian has twice become the undisputed heavyweight champion after defeating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, while previously cleaning out the cruiserweight division as its undisputed champion.
“Muhammad Ali,” said Canelo when asked by the Daily Mail to choose the winner in a fight between a prime Ali and Usyk.
Canelo offered no further explanation, but the choice reflects the enormous respect Ali still commands more than four decades after his retirement. Ali won the heavyweight title three times during his legendary career and produced iconic victories over Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston and Ken Norton.
Usyk has inevitably drawn comparisons to Ali because of his movement, footwork and ability to overcome naturally bigger opponents. The Ukrainian weighed just 221 pounds when he first captured the heavyweight championship, putting him in a weight range similar to Ali’s during much of his prime.
Fantasy matchups between heavyweight greats have become more frequent as Usyk’s legacy has grown, although opinions remain divided on how fighters from different eras would fare against one another.
Canelo isn’t the first former champion to weigh in on the matchup. Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, who shared the ring with Ali during the final years of his career, also recently gave his opinion on how a fight between Ali and Usyk would play out.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/07 at 10:18 PM
