Joe Calzaghe has revealed who he believes to be the number one heavyweight in the world.
Most boxing fans would probably have currently have Tyson Fury atop the pile, however Oleksandr Usyk’s back to back wins over Anthony Joshua put him well in the conversation.
In a recent interview with IFL TV, Calzaghe admitted he still has ranks ‘The Gypsy King’ as top dog.
“I think you still see him [Fury] as the number one in the division because he’s beaten everybody, he’s undefeated and he’s the longest reigning champion.”
“Obviously, Usyk’s going to stake a claim, but I think Fury’s got to be number one for me.”
Fans had hoped Fury and Usyk would be locking horns in an undisputed heavyweight world title fight in just over a week’s time at Wembley Stadium, however these talks ultimately collapsed after months of negotiations.
Most in the sport have laid blame for the capitulation of the fight at the door of ‘The Gypsy King,’ accusing him of “moving the goalposts” and continually pushing new demands upon Usyk as a means of swerving the contest.
Fury teased today that an announcement on his next opponent was imminent, with Andy Ruiz Jr believed to be the current frontrunner.
However, there is renewed hope that the two premier heavyweights of this era could meet at the end of this year, as part of a four man heavyweight bonanza in Saudi Arabia that would also see Anthony Joshua face Deontay Wilder.
If Usyk and Fury do fight for all the marbles, the winner would be the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield all the way back in 1999.