Editor’s note: This article was originally published before his unanimous-decision victory over Derek Chisora last October.
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Oleksandr Usyk isn’t breaking new ground by transitioning from a successful career at cruiserweight to heavyweight. Many have done it. A few have succeeded, most haven’t.
The obvious disadvantage for a natural cruiserweight is the weight he gives away to big heavyweights. For example, Derek Chisora, Usyk’s opponent on Saturday in London, weighed in Friday 38.5 pounds heavier than Usyk (255.5 to 217).
That’s a significant difference, one that only a special fighter can overcome. And remember: Usyk’s goal is to fight Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury one day. We’ll see how that works out.
Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) stopped Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds in his heavyweight debut in October of last year. So far good. But Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) is expected to be a better gauge of how effective Usyk can be against the biggest men in the sport.
Here are three cruiserweights-turned-heavyweights who succeeded in the higher division and three who didn’t.
SUCCEEDED
EVANDER HOLYFIELD
Record: 44-10-2 (29 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: Three (one reign)
Titles at heavyweight: Eight (four reigns)
Notable victories at heavyweight: Buster Douglas, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Mike Tyson (twice), Michael Moorer
Background: Holyfield is arguably the best cruiserweight ever and one of the greatest heavyweights. “The Real Deal” was at a size disadvantage in many of his heavyweight fights but was a four-time titleholder, beating a string of big-name opponents along the way. He won his first 10 fights at heavyweight, including a knockout of Buster Douglas in 1990 to become champion in Douglas’ first fight after his upset of Mike Tyson. Then Holyfield had his first encounter with a prime behemoth, Riddick Bowe. Holyfield and Bowe engaged in one of the great three-fight series but Bowe emerged victorious twice. Holyfield then picked on someone his own size. In one of boxing’s greatest upsets, he stopped Mike Tyson to regain a belt in 1996 and then lost a portion of his ear in the rematch. He had his ups and downs after that but was always competitive and delivered exciting fights. He almost won a title for a fifth time in 2008, when he was 46, but lost a majority decision to giant Nikolai Valuev. He fought three more times and retired.
DAVID HAYE
Overall record: 28-4 (26 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: One (one reign)
Titles at heavyweight: One (one reign)
Notable victories at heavyweight: Monte Barrett, Nikolai Valuev, John Ruiz, Derek Chisora
Background: Haye was the king of the cruiserweight division in the 2000s, becoming undisputed champion and losing only to Carl Thompson by a stunning fifth-round knockout in 2004. “Hayemaker” made his debut as a full-fledged heavyweight in November 2008, when he stopped Monte Barrett in five rounds. In his next fight, a year later, he defeated Valuev by a majority decision to win one of the four major titles. He successfully defended against John Ruiz and Audley Harrison but then reached a little too high in an attempt to unify titles. A prime Wladimir Klitschko made Haye look like an undersized journeyman in July 2011, winning a wide decision in a fight that wasn’t remotely competitive. Haye blamed a toe injury afterward, making things worse for him. Haye wasn’t a great heavyweight by any stretch but he was good enough to win a major title and make two successful defenses. That’s a success.
TOMASZ ADAMEK
Overall record: 53-6 (31 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: One (one reign)
Titles at heavyweight: None
Notable victories at heavyweight: Andrew Golota, Chris Arreola, Michael Grant, Eddie Chambers, Steve Cunningham
Background: Adamek had a remarkable career overall. The tough, well-schooled Pole won his first 31 fights and captured titles at both light heavyweight and cruiserweight before trying his hand against the biggest boys. He started his heavyweight career with a knockout of countryman Andrew Golota and reeled off five more victories to earn a shot at then-champion Vitali Klitschko in 2011. That’s where things started to go south. Adamek demonstrated the grit for which he was known but ultimately was overwhelmed by a much bigger, better man. Klitschko won every round and scored a 10th-round knockout. Adamek had mixed success after that – including a five-fight winning streak – but never again fought for a world title. He retired in 2018. Why is he filed under “successful” here? Because he beat some good opponents and earned his shot at a title. Adamek was a solid heavyweight.
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UNSUCCESSFUL
JAMES TONEY
Overall record: 77-10-3 (47 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: One (one reign)
Titles at heavyweight: None
Notable victories at heavyweight: Evander Holyfield, Fres Oquendo
Background: Toney could’ve been classified as “successful” here if he hadn’t failed a drug test and a few other things had gone his way. “Lights Out” is generally considered one of the most-gifted boxers of his generation even though he had issues with discipline. He won titles at middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight. Toney had a so-so experience in heavyweight waters but emerged with one impressive victory, a ninth-round stoppage of 40-year-old Evander Holyfield in 2003. And, in 2005, he defeated John Ruiz by a unanimous decision to win a major heavyweight title. However, days later, he tested positive for a steroid, the fight was ruled no-contest and Ruiz was reinstated as champion. Toney had mixed results after that – including a one-fight return to cruiserweight in which he lost to Denis Lebedev in 2011 – and never again fought for a meaningful heavyweight belt. Toney will be remembered as a great fighter but that has little to do with his years as a heavyweight.
DWIGHT MUHAMMAD QAWI
Overall record: 41-11-1 (25 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: One (one reign)
Titles at heavyweight: None
Notable victories at heavyweight: None
Background: Qawi, whose whirling-dervish style was reminiscent of Joe Frazer, was a beast at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He beat a string of quality opponents and most notably gave Holyfield absolute hell in a classic 1986 cruiserweight fight before losing a split decision, all of which earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. At heavyweight? Things didn’t go so well for the 5-foot-7 banger from New Jersey. Qawi’s first serious foray into the sport’s heaviest division was against George Forman in 1988 and he was stopped in seven rounds. He went back to fighting smaller men after that, with moderate success, before retiring in 1992. However, he couldn’t stay away. He returned once more as a heavyweight at 44 years old, beat two journeyman, lost to one (Tony LaRosa) and then walked away for good. Qawi (originally Dwight Braxton) is remembered as a fine light heavyweight and cruiserweight who was just too small to make it at heavyweight.
CARLOS DE LEON
Overall record: 53-8-1 (33 KOs)
Titles at cruiserweight: Four (four reigns)
Titles at heavyweight: None
Notable victories at heavyweight: None
Background: People might forget how good De Leon was at cruiserweight in the 1980s, although he had his ups and downs. The Puerto Rican had four reigns as WBC cruiserweight champ, meaning he lost his belt three times – including once by knockout against Evander Holyfield — but he had the resilience and determination to regain it three times before losing it for good. He had victories over Marvin Camel (twice), Leon Spinks and Yaqui Lopez, and he drew with Johnny Nelson. He was on a win streak at cruiserweight in 1994 when he decided to move up to move up to heavyweight. He failed. He was stopped by Corrie Sanders in only 49 seconds in his heavyweight debut and lasted less than three rounds against Brian Nielsen three months later. He never fought again after that. De Leon died at 60 this past January.
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