Rahman on Hypothetical Usyk–Lewis Fight: “An Unmatched Chess Player”

Former world champion and ex-opponent of Lennox Lewis, Hasim Rahman, shared his thoughts on who would win in a matchup between Lewis and Oleksandr Usyk.

– A few months ago, Lennox Lewis told me he’d love to fight Oleksandr Usyk. Do you think he could beat him?

– Yes.

– How?

– I just believe Lennox was excellent with distance. I’m talking about Lennox when he worked with Manny Steward — he was an unmatched chess player in the ring. He knew how to control distance, and his power was simply incredible. He was one of the best…

I mean how he controlled the situation in the ring — his boxing IQ, how he controlled space, his strength, his height, his command of distance. He knew exactly how to take control of a fight, Rahman said.

Lennox Lewis was the last Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in the three-belt era. Twenty-five years later, Usyk became the first to repeat the achievement — the first Undisputed in the four-belt era.

Photo: The Sporting News