Former WBC heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman has tabbed Oleksandr Usyk to overcome Tyson Fury in a potential full division unification.

There are ongoing discussions to stage Fury vs. Usyk in the early part of 2023.

Last month, Uysk retained the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight titles with a twelve round decision win in his anticipated rematch with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. Usyk captured the unified crown back in September of 2021, when he decisioned Joshua.

Fury has been out of the ring since April, when he knocked out Dillian Whyte in six rounds to retain the WBC title.

While Fury has a significant size advantage in the bout, Rahman is giving Usyk the edge with his crafty boxing style.

"I think Usyk is the best heavyweight that’s currently fighting today,” Rahman told Fighthype.com

“I think Fury imitates Usyk, and he’s had a lot of success with it. Fighting plodding, slow heavyweights [who are not] really boxing like that. Everything Fury can do in boxing, Usyk can do it better.”

Both fighters are undefeated and regarded as the best boxers in the weight class.

Usyk has been tabbed by many as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. 

Rahman agrees with that position, explaining that Usyk's knowledge of the sport will play a big role in the contest.

“With heavyweights it’s different. Most heavyweights are lazy, and they don’t have that work ethic. With the smaller guys it’s a little different. With Usyk’s boxing IQ, that’s going to play a big, major part. A lot of time the smaller guys IQs kind of cancel each other out," Rahman said.