--- title: "BoxRec Names the Greatest Ukrainian Heavyweights of All Time: The Klicho Brothers on Top, Usyk Rounds Out the Top Three" description: "BoxRec has published an updated ranking of the greatest Ukrainian heavyweights of all time: Vladimir Klicho takes first place, Vitali Klicho second, and Aleksandr Usyk third, having vacated his championship belts but retaining his status as the country's greatest boxer." date: 2026-09-21T12:20:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/boxrec-greatest-ukrainian-heavyweights-klicho-usik tags: [boxing, usyk, vladimir-klichko, vitaly-klichko, boxrec, heavyweight, ukraine] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # BoxRec Names the Greatest Ukrainian Heavyweights of All Time: The Klicho Brothers on Top, Usyk Rounds Out the Top Three ![Ukrainian heavyweight boxer in a red jacket against a BoxRec logo backdrop — featured in the all-time ranking of Ukraine's best heavyweights](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/21/boxrec-reyting-luchshih-supertyazhej-ukrainy-klichko-usik/boxrec-reyting-luchshih-supertyazhej-ukrainy-klichko-usik-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - BoxRec has published an updated ranking of the greatest Ukrainian heavyweight boxers of all time - Vladimir Klicho takes first place thanks to a record 23 wins in title fights - Vitali Klicho is in second place; after his career he was awarded the status of WBC lifetime champion - Aleksandr Usyk rounds out the top three; he recently vacated his championship belts but remains the greatest figure in Ukrainian boxing The authoritative boxing portal BoxRec has published an updated ranking of the greatest Ukrainian boxers in the heavyweight division of all time. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing a post on the resource's website. The updated list features both active and retired champions whose achievements have defined the face of Ukrainian boxing on the world stage over the past three decades. ### Vladimir Klicho — the Undisputed Leader of the Ranking Vladimir Klicho takes the top spot in the BoxRec ranking. Throughout his career in the heavyweight division, he dominated the class, winning title fights with a consistency that remains unmatched to this day. The key argument in favor of his first-place finish is his record for the number of world title defense wins — the boxer has 23 such fights to his name. This achievement underscores not only his technical skill but also his exceptional stamina and ability to repeatedly defend his championship belts over many years. ### Vitali Klicho — Honorary Status and Lasting Recognition The second position in the ranking is held by Vladimir's older brother, Vitali Klicho. The legendary WBC belt holder, who was considered one of the most formidable boxers in the division's history throughout his career, was awarded the status of honorary and lifetime champion of the organization by the World Boxing Council after retiring from professional activity. This recognition cements his place in the elite of Ukrainian and world boxing regardless of his current position in the rankings. ### Aleksandr Usyk — A Unique Achievement and a Place in the Top Three Aleksandr Usyk rounds out the top three. The Ukrainian star has etched his name in history with a unique achievement: he became the undisputed world champion first in the cruiserweight and subsequently in the heavyweight division, an extremely rare feat in professional boxing. As the publication notes, the boxer recently vacated his championship belts, yet he retains his status as one of the greatest figures in the history of the sport. It was also previously reported that Usyk made the list of the most influential figures in world boxing, further confirming his significance to the industry. ### Other Representatives of Ukrainian Boxing on the List In addition to the three leaders, the prestigious BoxRec list also includes other well-known representatives of Ukrainian professional boxing in the heavyweight division. The portal disclosed the full composition of the rest of the ranking on its page, but the key fact remains that the Ukrainian school of boxing is represented in this division by several names, underscoring the depth and tradition of domestic boxing at the highest level. ### Context: How Other Outlets Rank Heavyweights It is worth noting that BoxRec is not the only resource that maintains its own rankings of the greatest boxers in history. The Ring, for example, recently updated its heavyweight list, where Usyk appears as the reigning champion and Tyson Fury has re-entered the top three. ESPN has also published its own updated ranking with changes at the top. Differences in methodologies and evaluation criteria mean that the order of positions can vary from one outlet to another, but in the BoxRec ranking it is the trio of Klicho — Klicho — Usyk that forms the undisputed top of Ukrainian heavyweights. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Neither First Nor Second: Usyk Lands an Unexpected Spot in the Ranking of the Greatest Ukrainian Heavyweights](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/pershiy-i-drugiy-usik-otrimav-nespodivanu-1789993076.html) - Подтверждает позиции: Кличко В. — 1, Кличко В. — 2, Усик — 3. Упоминает рекорд 23 титульных побед Владимира и статус вечного чемпиона WBC Виталия. - [The Ring Updates Its Heavyweight Ranking: Usyk Is Champion, Fury Back in the Top 3](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/box/1776148042-the-ring-obnovili-reyting-supertyazhey-usik-chempion-fyuri-snova-v-top-3.html) - Отражает рейтинг The Ring (другая организация), не противоречит данным BoxRec. Усик указан как действующий чемпион на момент публикации. - [Who Is Greater — Vitali or Vladimir Klicho? Ranking of the Greatest Heavyweights in Ukrainian History](https://sport.nv.ua/boxing/kto-luchshiy-bokser-vladimir-klichko-ili-vitaliy-klichko-reyting-luchshih-bokserov-ukrainy-50642397.html) - Обсуждает сравнение братьев Кличко в контексте рейтингов супертяжей Украины, согласуется с позициями BoxRec. - [Changes at the Top: ESPN's Updated Heavyweight Ranking](https://korrespondent.net/sport/boks/4847095-yzmenenyia-na-vershyne-obnovlennyi-reitynh-supertiazhei-ot-ESPN) - Упоминает рейтинг ESPN — ещё одна методология. Не противоречит данным BoxRec, дополняет контекст. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who took first place in the BoxRec ranking of the greatest Ukrainian heavyweights? **A:** Vladimir Klicho took first place, setting a record for the number of wins in world title fights — 23 bouts. ### Q: Why is Vitali Klicho in second place? **A:** Vitali Klicho took second place thanks to his dominance in the division and his status as honorary and lifetime WBC champion, which he was awarded after retiring. ### Q: What unique achievement did Aleksandr Usyk accomplish? **A:** Aleksandr Usyk became the undisputed world champion first in the cruiserweight and then in the heavyweight division — an extremely rare feat in the history of professional boxing. ### Q: Is Usyk the reigning champion at the time the ranking was published? **A:** No, Usyk recently vacated his championship belts, but he retains his status as one of the greatest figures in the history of Ukrainian and world boxing. ### Q: Does the BoxRec ranking match those of The Ring and ESPN? **A:** The order of positions may differ, since each organization uses its own evaluation methodology. In The Ring's ranking Usyk is listed as the reigning champion, while ESPN also notes changes at the top. However, in BoxRec the top is formed precisely by Klicho, Klicho, and Usyk.