The longest-reigning cruiserweight champion of all time has backed one of the most formidable heavyweight punchers in history to defeat Oleksandr Usyk.

While having maintained an unblemished record throughout his 25-fight career, there is no guarantee that Usyk would have achieved the same success in previous eras.

Against the likes of Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, for instance, the Ukrainian may not have been able to utilise his technical attributes as effectively.

This generation, meanwhile, has seen him become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, having scored two respective wins over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

Fury, in particular, was backed by many to defeat Usyk, who ultimately secured a ninth-round knockdown and won their first encounter by split decision.

But while the former cruiserweight king possesses a supreme skillset, he has never faced a puncher quite like George Foreman, who consistently displayed his power against tougher opposition than both Joshua and Dubois, for example.

This is evidenced by his second-round stoppages of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, which arrived before he lost to Muhammad Ali in 1974.

As a result, former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, who held the belt for over seven years, has told Daily Mail Boxing that, while it would be an interesting clash, he cannot see how Usyk beats a prime ‘Big George’.

It also speaks to the American’s mindset that, following a 10-year hiatus, he managed to return to action and eventually became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history.

He did so by dethroning Michael Moorer with a 10th-round finish for the IBF strap in 1994, despite having lost previous attempts against Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison.