Joshua Usyk

Usyk wins this if all things are equal. He's a couple of levels above AJ and the scorecards might not even be needed. AJ was badly exposed by Ruiz and his two fights since involved dodging a very overweight and slow footed Ruiz in the rematch and beating an aging Pulev.

By the way, Usyk beats Fury as well, no dangers 👍
 
Usyk wins this if all things are equal. He's a couple of levels above AJ and the scorecards might not even be needed. AJ was badly exposed by Ruiz and his two fights since involved dodging a very overweight and slow footed Ruiz in the rematch and beating an aging Pulev.

By the way, Usyk beats Fury as well, no dangers 👍
That’s a big shout, can’t call USYK/ AJ, but fury to beat them both. 🥊
 
Changing subject slightly did people see Canelo chin Plant in their build up? Hand speed was ridiculous!
Rather a stupid thing to do as Plant now has a cut under his eye (yes I am aware Plant threw and missed the first punch, though this was only after a big push from Canelo).
 
Last edited:
Rather a stupid thing to do as Plant now has a cut under his eye (yes I am aware Plant threw and missed the first punch, though this was only after a big push from Canelo).
Oh no I’ve missed all this , will catch up now.
 
I put no stock in that Joshua re-match with Ruiz, as proof of Joshua's improved ring IQ. Ruiz was grossly out of shape. Most Heavyweights would've danced round him that day.
 
Rather a stupid thing to do as Plant now has a cut under his eye (yes I am aware Plant threw and missed the first punch, though this was only after a big push from Canelo).
I don’t fancy Plants chances based on that brief exchange!
 
Usyk wins this if all things are equal. He's a couple of levels above AJ and the scorecards might not even be needed. AJ was badly exposed by Ruiz and his two fights since involved dodging a very overweight and slow footed Ruiz in the rematch and beating an aging Pulev.

By the way, Usyk beats Fury as well, no dangers 👍

I don’t see Usyk beating Fury

Even Usyk has said himself the Fury fight would be difficult for him

I don’t see anyone beating Fury if he’s on top of his game, he can do anything. Fight inside or outside, on the front foot or back foot, southpaw or orthodox. He beat Chisora fighting left handed and made him get stopped on his stool.

Fury has a huge ring IQ and can adapt in the middle of fights much more than any heavyweight today.

The one flaw I see with Usyk, which is also the same with his friend Lomachenko, they have one style and it’s extremely effective until it’s not. That’s why Loma couldn’t adapt to Teofimo Lopez and kept trying the same things over and over when it wasn’t working.

Lopez used a good pivot against Loma and took away the angles . Many fighters today have no real pivot. If you can Keep it long with a jab and know when and how to pivot, you can pretty much take away all the angles that Lomachenko and Usyk use. If I was AJ, I’d hope his team have looked at that. You really have to disrupt their plan A, after that, they’re far more beatable.

Usyk almost lost to Briedis for a similar reason, it was a very close fight and Usyk had no plan B. The Ukrainian amateur system find a style that suits you and drill you on that one style. But over there they have extremely long amateur careers, like 300 fights, so you get really stuck in one style and become so good at it but the problem is that hard to get away from it when it’s not working.

I think Fury at his best is so adept at taking away a fighters best assets that someone like Usyk would struggle and have no answers in the end. Fury can beat you in many ways. He beat the two longest reigning champions in modern times in entirely different fashions.
 
I don’t see Usyk beating Fury

Even Usyk has said himself the Fury fight would be difficult for him

I don’t see anyone beating Fury if he’s on top of his game, he can do anything. Fight inside or outside, on the front foot or back foot, southpaw or orthodox. He beat Chisora fighting left handed and made him get stopped on his stool.

Fury has a huge ring IQ and can adapt in the middle of fights much more than any heavyweight today.

The one flaw I see with Usyk, which is also the same with his friend Lomachenko, they have one style and it’s extremely effective until it’s not. That’s why Loma couldn’t a adapt to Teofimo Lopez and kept trying the same things over and over when it wasn’t working.

Usyk almost lost to Briedis for a similar reason, it was a very close fight and Usyk had no plan B. The Ukrainian amateur system find a style that suits you and drill you on that one style. But over there they have extremely long amateur careers, like 300 fights, so you get really stuck in one style and become so good at it but the problem is that hard to get away from it when it’s not working.

I think Fury at his best is so adept at taking away a fighters best assets that someone like Usyk would struggle and have no answers in the end. Fury can beat you in many ways. He beat the two longest reigning champions in modern times in entirely different fashions.

I would agree. I don't see Usyk getting near Fury. Fury has such a reach advantage and a range of shots that I think he'd win on auto pilot. If needed he'd also lean on Usyk like he did with Wilder and exhaust him.
 
it's over 2 stone heavier than his last cruiserweight fight against Bellew. No way that doesn't impact his footwork and stamina

Have you seen the pics from today, AJ looking very light and lean and Usyk certainly has piled on the muscle, going to be a very different fight to what most people expected.
 
Have you seen the pics from today, AJ looking very light and lean and Usyk certainly has piled on the muscle, going to be a very different fight to what most people expected.
Yes, his chest and shoulders looked broad in his "Joker" suit. But he seems a really weird shape now. It seems a real gamble from team Usyk to do this to his body, we just don't know how it will impact him. Could be genius or disaster?!

AJ his fought in this kind of shape before, gives him a good blend of pace and power, and a bit more stamina in the tank too.

It's going to be a very interesting fight, no idea which way it will go. It was clear from the weight in just how much of reach advantage Joshua has, and how Usyk has to punch upwards. Usyk might have to try and get inside and find angles if he wants to land heavy, which isn't his normal style at all.
 
Yes, his chest and shoulders looked broad in his "Joker" suit. But he seems a really weird shape now. It seems a real gamble from team Usyk to do this to his body, we just don't know how it will impact him. Could be genius or disaster?!

AJ his fought in this kind of shape before, gives him a good blend of pace and power, and a bit more stamina in the tank too.

It's going to be a very interesting fight, no idea which way it will go. It was clear from the weight in just how much of reach advantage Joshua has, and how Usyk has to punch upwards. Usyk might have to try and get inside and find angles if he wants to land heavy, which isn't his normal style at all.
I'm sure I read that there's not much between AJ and Usyk's reaches. Obviously AJ has a big height advantage but that can be negated with good movement.
 
Joshua in a close one, Usyk will be hard to hit clean, if Josh connects though he can cause damage, Usyk hits hard enough to earn respect but I don't believe he can cause enough damage to slow Joshua enough to keep him off. 7/5 decision or late refs stoppage for AJ.
 
I think its got to be mind games, why would you bulk up that much to fight the biggest puncher you've ever been in with.

Usyk's advantage is his movement and boxing IQ, why would you reduce your mobility it makes no sense.

The other thing is that if Usyk wanted to bulk up so that he could stand and trade with AJ surely you'd gradually build up to it over a few fights. Let's say he's put loads of muscle on, how will his team know how that extra bulk will affect him in the ring. You surely don't experiment in the biggest fight of your career. I know they can look at him in sparring to see how he copes with the extra bulk but its not the same as being in an actual fight.

I think the sensible money will be on an AJ points victory, Usyk wasn't a big puncher at Cruiserweight so I don't see him stopping AJ. Even if Usyk outboxes Joshua its unlikely he gets the points victory. I can see a tight chess match where Usyk outboxes AJ for long periods but ultimately lacking the firepower to really hurt him or get the points win.
Good points. There’s a few fighters who have jumped up 2 weights (Kahn and brook) and not even acclimatised at that weight and have struggled with the power of their opponents. I see this as practically the same thing.
 
Usyk jumping up in weight has puzzled me, not sure what he gains from it and just confirms his team don't think he had the power to trouble Joshua.

Movement was his best chance for me, to go the 12 rounds frustrating Joshua and nicking a points win. I don't think he can do that now and could end up a sitting duck in the backend of the fight.

Strange.
 
Back
Top