Benavidez Challenges Boxing’s Consensus: Usyk Over Crawford as Best of the Era

By Akins Wandex 

In a candid and thought-provoking interview, David Benavidez, the reigning WBC light heavyweight champion, challenged a widely held belief in the boxing world — that Terence “Bud” Crawford is the undisputed best fighter of his generation. Benavidez’s comments have reignited a vigorous debate among boxing fans and analysts about how greatness should be defined in the golden era of multiple elite champions.

While many observers have lauded Crawford’s extraordinary career, including his historic rise to become an undisputed champion across multiple weight classes, Benavidez believes another fighter’s résumé clearly surpasses that of the recently retired pound-for-pound star. “I think Oleksandr Usyk is number one without a doubt,” Benavidez said, pointing to Usyk’s remarkable string of accomplishments at cruiserweight and heavyweight. According to Benavidez, Usyk’s willingness to take on the best in multiple divisions — including marquee victories over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois — sets him apart in terms of sustained excellence and competitive breadth.

Crawford’s legacy in the sport is undeniably remarkable. Retiring at the end of 2025 with a perfect 42-0 record and championships in five weight classes, he completed one of the most decorated careers in modern boxing history. His most significant triumph arguably came in September 2025, when he moved up to super-middleweight to defeat Saul “Canelo” Álvarez and become that division’s undisputed champion — a feat few fighters have achieved.

Still, Benavidez’s stance highlights the complex and subjective nature of greatness in combat sports. Usyk, undefeated at cruiserweight and later dominating the heavyweight ranks, became just the second undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, and his resume includes victories over multiple headline names across divisions — a point Benavidez argues gives him the edge in era-wide comparisons. 

This debate mirrors broader discussions among boxing pundits and fans. Some rank lists — such as ESPN’s 2025 Top 100 fighters — have included both Crawford and Usyk at or near the top of their pound-for-pound standings, reflecting the depth and complexity of the current era’s elite talent pool. 

As Benavidez prepares for his next chapter — potentially targeting further unification bouts and moving into even higher weight classes — his comments serve as a reminder that subjective narratives and personal perspectives will always play a role in how careers are remembered and compared. For now, the conversation about who truly defined this era of boxing remains wide open.