How did Usyk look yesterday?

I'm pissed off the event started so late. Tried staying up for Usyk and Loma but just couldn't (UK based).

 

Its a killer isn't it. Few year ago it weren't a problem..Now there isn't a fighter I could do 5/6am for

 

He looked a bit impatient and not disciplined enough. Didn't invest in his gameplan like he usually does and I think partially it was because Hunter was landing very fast pitter patter punches that steal rounds and Usyk was wary that he was losing rounds.
Usyk takes a little time to get into the groove but he started to more and landed the more stronger blows in the fight which made him steal rounds and then Usyk started to land more power punches far more frequently.

It wasn't a squeaky clean performance but Michael Hunter had the style of punching (not harmful), the speed too to be quite effective against Usyk, who became a successful amateur from fighting the bigger guys, using his own speed and fast punching to win rounds.

It would be very strange for anyone to write Usyk off in any way from that performance, Hunter was no threat in there with his very amateurish style. Usyk is no way near as fluid or intelligent as a Lomachenko for example but he's still a true elite of the sport.

 

I'd have slept earlier in the night but watched the whole of the Boxnation bill and that kinda drains you.

 

@Gannicus I think also the coach change affected him as well. Wasn't Loma's father supposed to be in his corner too?

 

It was a good fight until Hunter felt Usyk's power, near the end of the 3rd round. After that Hunter became more rubbery legged and less willing to engage. In the early rounds, he was scoring by using side to side motion and getting inside to land body shots. After the 3rd, he didn't have the energy to do that anymore, so he just tried landing one punch at a time from the outside which wasn't working because it didn't stop Usyk from coming forward and landing combos on him. Usyk really does like to start slow, figure his opponent out then once he can make his opponent feel his power, the whole fight changes in his favor.

 

I was thinking the same thing during the fight. The coach change had me a little worried. Hopefully by next fight he has that all straightened out. I thought all in all he looked good.

 

Yeah, I think it could've been a bit tough because Anatoly wasn't in Usyk's corner during the fight, and Anatoly was naturally spending more time with Loma. Also Gvozdyk probably got some of Anatoly's attention, too.

Usyk was glorious in amateurs with Anatoly training him so I think it's probably a good thing. They would probably do better to fight at different times, though.

 

Usyk fights different these days, he keeps his gastank half full til the last third of a fight. More adapated to the pro game. He's definitely not what he used to be IMO, still figured Hunter out and had him all over the place. Hunter fought a great fight, I hope to see more of him.

 

usyk is no holyfield

 

A combination of Hunter's durability and a sadistic referee robbed Usyk of another TKO victory. Questions about his power are justified however, especially carrying enough late into a fight to finish the job.

 

Lol!!!

 

Looked sluggish to start with, but dominated the guy and should have got the KO.


No Real Deal mind.

 

He looked pretty sloppy and lacking in sharpness, though he's long had a tendency to look like this. Hunter managed to shut him down with a rudimentary jab and workrate alone, but faded after four and started to get tagged more and more. Still managed to have success against him in stretches, but Usyk was ultimately able to figure him out and should have been awarded a TKO in the 12th after he unleashed a savage Froch vs Taylor style beating on Hunter against the ropes.

It was definitely not a performance to sell you on Usyk if you've never seen him before. Looked distinctly average for way too much of the fight.