Imagine a boxing match that pits two legends against each other in their prime—Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield. It’s a fight that sparks endless debates among fans and experts alike. But here’s where it gets controversial: Shannon Briggs believes Usyk might just have the edge, and his reasoning is both bold and thought-provoking.
Briggs, a former world heavyweight champion, recently shared his insights in an interview with First Round TV. He points to one key factor that sets Usyk apart: his unparalleled conditioning. While both Usyk and Holyfield are celebrated for their transitions from cruiserweight to heavyweight dominance, Briggs argues that the modern era’s demands favor Usyk’s style. Holyfield’s prime was defined by skill and strategic brilliance, but Usyk’s ability to maintain relentless pressure throughout 12 rounds is something Briggs calls ‘just different.’
Let’s break it down. Usyk’s rise to undisputed cruiserweight champion, with wins over Mairis Briedis and Murat Gassiev, mirrored Holyfield’s own dominance in the division, including his victories over Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Carlos De Leon. However, it’s at heavyweight where the comparison gets fascinating. Holyfield’s iconic trilogy with Riddick Bowe and his shock wins over Mike Tyson cemented his legacy. Usyk, meanwhile, has emerged as a generational heavyweight great, with victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois.
And this is the part most people miss: Usyk’s performances aren’t just about skill—they’re about endurance. Briggs highlights how Usyk seems to get stronger as fights progress, a trait that’s rare even among pound-for-pound elites like Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. ‘It used to be more about skill,’ Briggs notes, ‘but now it’s all about conditioning. You can be skillful for six, seven rounds, but if you can’t handle the pressure, it’s like running your machine too fast.’
This shift in boxing’s focus from pure skill to sustained conditioning is what Briggs believes gives Usyk the edge. ‘In the 12th round, [Usyk is] still throwing punches like it’s the first round,’ he says. ‘Nobody else has been able to do that in the history of boxing.’
Of course, this isn’t to diminish Holyfield’s greatness. On a purely skill-for-skill basis, Briggs admits Holyfield might have the upper hand in a prime-for-prime matchup. But in today’s boxing landscape, where conditioning reigns supreme, Usyk’s ability to outlast and outwork opponents could be the deciding factor.
Here’s the question that’ll spark debate: Is Shannon Briggs right? Does Usyk’s conditioning give him the edge over a prime Holyfield, or is skill still the ultimate decider in a hypothetical matchup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
