Usyk wins but doesnt convince.

Usyk doesnt belong in the same sentence with Holyfield.

 

This. Usyk is such a well-rounded boxer. His defence is superb without the need to be flashy. His feints and footwork befuddled Chazz and I'd put money on him to scramble Wilder's brains too.

 

Usyk would give Holyfield endless trouble and that you better believe. Holyfield always had hassles with slickster boxers and Usyk is like teflon.

 

Yep. The fight was over by Round 3, at the latest. It was a masterpiece.

Total respect to Chazz. He took the fight, he came to fight, and he did all he could despite not being in peak condition.

Witherspoon is no joke. But by Round 4, at the latest, this was a sparring session.

Which just goes to show how good Usyk is.

 

How much time Witherspoon had to prepare for fight?

 

Come on, man. Witherspoon was cannon fodder for fringe contenders a decade ago. I like him, but he's not a viable opponent for anyone at this point.

Usyk is an excellent fighter, but tonight didn't do anything to suggest he's an excellent HW. We'll see, though. The son of a gun is awfully skilled.

 

It will be fun to watch.

Tonight was about:

- How does he look at the weight (speed, reflexes after weight gain)
- Comeback after injury

Witherspoon is over the hill and out of shape tonight. No doubt. But it was a shutout win for Usyk, within the distance, and he looked pretty good with the extra weight on him.

For sure, not time to hand out the "greatest HW ever" ribbons or anything, but he looked good (IMO) for what tonight was.

I've always been a big believer in Usyk. That's my bias. Still, I thought tonight went as well as it could have. I guess people can say he didn't really hurt Witherspoon, but then again the fight only lasted 7 rounds.

It'll be fun to see what happens going forward.

 

Show me where has has done that at close range....

Most of the time he looks like he is swatting mosquitos at a BBQ.

 

he didn't look very motivated tonight. I'm sure he would be much better and snappier when he gets in the ring with wilder

 

This.

Other than the Szpilka KO, I'm hard pressed to think of a KO he has had that wasn't a long, straight right.

 

Usyk didn't even try. He was just there to fight a little bit.

 

I thought he performed well tonight considering the long lay off, injury and change of opponent.

His chin will get tested more. Witherspoon caught him a few times as he was coming in. People are talking about Wilder, but I think Ruiz would give Usyk trouble as he throws when his opponent does.

I think we will see a less active, more cautious Usyk at HW. Much like we did with Haye.

There's no need to jump straight into a huge fight next. I think he will take the winner of Chisora v Price.

 

Fury has even less power but became WC and Usyk has even better footwork, a better Jab and ia a better combination puncher than a prime Fury.

I expect him Usyk to become a WC at HW.

 

Certain boxers do not go for early one-punch KOs - Usyk and Loma being two of those. They break their opponents down in a way that mitigates risk. Usyk has decent power, but he does not throw 100% power shots as it wastes energy and could place him out of position for a counter.

Usyk doesn't have the power of Wilder or Joshua, but he doesn't need it to win.

Don't be surprised to see Usyk stopping some of these big HWs late in the later rounds. He will have broken them down, they will be tired and he will start to ratchet up the power.

He assassinates with the rack, rather than the guillotine.

 

Holyfield had them vitamins though....

Tbh I don’t think either fight has any bearing on how either fighter would go on to do or will go on to achieve.