Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk believes Terence Crawford would defeat Sugar Ray Leonard in a hypothetical fight between the two legends in their primes. The Ukrainian fighter’s assessment places Crawford at the pinnacle of boxing history, even above other celebrated champions.
Crawford retired from the sport with an undefeated 42-0 record following his victory over Canelo Alvarez in September 2025. That win made him the undisputed super-middleweight champion, securing his status as the only post-war boxer to hold undisputed titles in three different weight classes. He had previously unified the super-lightweight and welterweight divisions. His career concluded as a five-division world champion, cementing his place among the modern era’s elite.
Sugar Ray Leonard is an icon of the sport, renowned for his role in the celebrated ‘Four Kings’ era of the 1980s. During that period, he secured defining victories over fellow legends Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler. Leonard also became a five-division champion in November 1988, defeating Donny Lalonde to win titles at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight on the same night. His speed, skill, and ring intelligence made him one of the most formidable fighters of his generation.
Despite Leonard’s decorated career, Usyk gave the advantage to the Nebraskan. In comments reported by Daily Mail Sport, Usyk stated he thinks Crawford would have got the better of Leonard. He also predicted that Crawford would have overcome other historical greats, including Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Robinson.
This endorsement from a contemporary champion carries significant weight. Usyk, himself a pound-for-pound great, was considered a rival to Crawford for the sport’s top spot before the American’s retirement. His opinion offers a modern, expert perspective on a classic boxing debate, further strengthening Crawford’s claim as one of the greatest fighters in history.
