Usyk won't be in cruiserweight tournament!

Excellent point! Usyk being hitched to HBO may have prevented his participation. It honestly is not the worst thing in the world. Other fights of interest will be available: for instance if someone in the tourny loses in the first round but looks good doing so they could fight Usyk next and have it used as a performance barometer.

 

No , he bottled it. Too sacred of Kurdy.

Usyk is no Andre Ward.

 

Sorry if I missed anything but who had filled the slots outside of Gassiev, Wlod and Bredis? I am sure they could get Huck, no problem.

 

Joe Frazier pulled out of the heavyweight tournament in the late 60's when Ali was suspended. He waited for the winner and stopped Jimmy Ellis. Worked OK for him. Usyk ain't Frazier though and boxing ain't like it was in 1968.

 

I think he shouldn't leave his run at heavyweight that late anyway.

 

The cherry on top is this: One would think that, if scheduling a tournament, it'd make sense to at least verify the fighters were willing to face each other.

Ward-Dirrell was supposed to happen. The date was set originally as September 27, but the promoters couldn't get a venue worked out (there's a shocker). Showtime served them legal notice to make it happen, and Dirrell conveniently got his note from Dr. Shaw-High backing out before the November 27 rescheduling.

I remember there was a guy posting on here at the time that was a little too certain the minute it was "scheduled" that it wasn't going down. Apparently Dirrell's team wasn't quiet enough about stating they weren't going near Ward with a 10 foot pole unless there was more $$$ involved. Whether that's 100% on the money or a stretch is up for debate, but what's not is that it's awfully damn convenient those severe neurological issues worked themselves out in such a way that Andre is still boxing 7 years later. Ward got his Oakland fight.

 

How did I just know this would end up being a slam on Usyk replete with a condemnation of the sports current landscape and changing demographic. If boxing is so much worse for you these days then just stick to watching NBA and NFL.

 

LOL, what did I condemn, David Duke? Where did I "slam" anybody?

You and Cistatey must be mods for amen.com in your free time.

 

yep, usyk can probably swim, ride a bike, and lift more weight than a downhill skier. frazier couldn't.

 

I recall watching the behind the scenes documentary they did and Ward was vehemently against travelling when they put it together and was almost thrown out there and then, but his promoter who he sued multiple times managed to get him home advantage throughout.

 

Don't hold ur breath it won't be anyone good.
Im getting frustrated by the lack of unification in this division.

 

Mike Perez eligible for this?? He has never backed out of a tournament when fit....could be a nice addition to make up numbers and could pull off a shock now that he's dropped back to cruiser.