“Usyk, putting them in there with [Evander] Holyfield, [Mike] Tyson, Lennox [Lewis], he would have hung with the best of them,” said David Haye to BoxingScene.

“He would have found a way. He’s shown consistently that he’s beat every man in and around his era. It’s hard not to be a fan of someone who’s done that.

“It’d be the equivalent of me beating Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko, and anyone else.”

Haye said Usyk’s ability to win away from home repeatedly against elite opposition separated him from most heavyweight champions from previous generations during their title runs over time.

Haye, who also won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight during his career, believes Usyk’s body of work already places him among the top heavyweights of any generation.

Usyk’s fight against Verhoeven is expected to draw major attention because of the unusual crossover element, even if many fans see it as a mismatch compared to the contenders waiting behind him at heavyweight.

The fight headlines Saturday’s “Glory in Giza” card in Egypt.