Huck really was more tough and durable than his size might had suggest. He had 1 mistake in fight vs Glowacki, fight he clearly had won and this costed him loss via stoppage, then he had get moderate beatup and worse than this: he by himself attempted to start clinch fight vs Briedis, worst choice there, then was Usyk fight and looks that he get that he will not win on cards cos Usyk too fresh and in prime, better suitable to get win on cards due to his background. More risk and he get stopped. Did Usyk had beated Makabu? Bellew was strange: he didn't had fought vs Briedis and instead prefered to vacate belt and move up, later when Usyk had all major belts, he demanded to fight for CW Undisputed vs Usyk. Usyk for sure is enough smart to know that he will lost this fight in U.K on cards regardless what will happen in the ring. He did only one thing that might gave him win: he stopped Bellew in distance. Whiterspoon was almost like out of retirement old fighter. not a mid tier journeyman, you are joking, he was better earlier than this level but he was old and not that active before fight vs Usyk. Usyk looked too lethargic. Such his versions had not won WBSS nor 1/2 final nor final. Ws Chisora he looked a bit in more better shape. Usyk version from Whiterspoon fight I think didn't had won nor Dorticos, nor 33 y.o Briedis or Gassiev from WBSS1 final nor also vs Chisora. Good luck that this was Whiterspoon. Glowacki then was in his real prime, he had get long and good beatup from Huck who was able to make problems for 32.yo 225 lbs then undefeated Povetkin who won Huck in really close fight. Huck almost had won this one, then he did 1 mistake and Glowacki, despite had beated up by Huck really seriously, had used him and stopped Huck. Ofc Usyk most likely had flowchart to keep distance and this Glowacki had speed and agility disadvantage vs Oly champ in Usyk while he was more like counter puncher who waits for opponent's mistakes and use them with a glance. Usyk choosed proper flow chart and won this one with a glance. Briedis? If he was damn durable for Vitali and Wlad to spar with ( no proof that he there was down even once ), then why Usyk should be able even to get down prime Briedis version? Nope. BTW I had picked 50//50 for fight Briedis vs Dorticos cos I didn't knew shape Briedis will have, if not in normal shape, Dorticos might had won him via UD. Gassiev? This dude no one had stopped and why for Usyk not to use his experience and agility/ speed advantage to win this one? Hunter then was enough agile, Usyk did not had landed on him properly, Hunter was not that bad boxer at all, he even likes me a bit.
I agree Usyk is visibly worse than he used to be but he's still very good. I think he's got a decent chance against the big guys.
Both main event heavyweight fights yesterday were very exciting and entertaining. Everyone thinks the current heavyweight division in their time sucks because they bring their own biases and expectations. Parker and Ruiz were expected to beat two older guys who weren't rated. Both Parker and Ruiz got floored and had to fight their way back. The old guys showed up and the rated guys got up and won. This morning, people are bashing them and the division. And, 10 years from now, new fans come and watch the fights and say, "Those were exciting heavyweight fights. I wish the fights now were like that." (LOL) Enjoy it. You could've easily seen two favorites blow out two old fat guys who didn't train or care in the least in three rounds ... and you'd be complaining about the matchmaking.
It really is weak. People criticize the Klit era but I think the 00s versions of those two are better than AJ and Fury. And I think their supporting cast was better than Whyte, Ruiz, Parker et al too. I was watching the Peter/Toney fights the other day and imo that version of Peter would murder guys like Whyte and Parker.
Thanks for proving my point. (LOL) When Peter and Toney fought, the "ko artist" Peter was destroyed by fans for not being able to stop a fat old middleweight who even Reggie Johnson floored.
There a lot of talented up and comers , but everything happens so slow.No body wants to risk it, two three meaningful fights per year.
Or to be allowed by business uncles, pro boxing is just business. This business needs boxers from proper countries and with proper managers and promoters. The same lads who had fought Vitali and Wlad are fighting today with top boxers.
If he was started at Heavy instead of CW yeah he would have, but moving so late at HW was a big big mistake. First he has a handful of injuries, because of the weight, also this also increase his decline. And almost 3 years have passed, and the guy have just 2 matches at HW, and neither of them was any good to be fair. He looks quite ordinary. I think he started losing his prime the time he fight Bellew. But some people think everyone is like Klitschkos, and they could be prime till their 37 or so. Last time we see a prime Usyk was against Gassiev. And somewhere in there he was start thinking about moving to HW and so. And i`m not a Usyk hater, quite the opposite, i`m big fan of him, but he did terrible mistake. Also his promoting team do him absolutely wrong. They should have pushed big time, and even threatening to SUE if Joshua either not drop the title or not give his mandatory straight way. Pulev team use this tactic and they get in the line. Now the thing with Joshua - Fury stretch big time, and by the time Usyk is going to fight for the title he will be even more shot to s*****. And if he was to pushed and get Joshua stripped, he would have fight for the title against Joyce or so, and would have gotten a lot more money and fame from that fight. And then he would have a big leverage, would have gotten way more money, cause he have a title in his pocket, and the likes of Fury/Joshua(whoever win) would have won the unify, which would make the fight way bigger, and Usyk would have gotten way much money. But they played by the Hearn rules and get screwed. But Usyk team should have been way smarter, than what happened to them. The guy should have stay in CW, he was a legend in there, and could have made his status more legendary. At the HW he is noone, and will be remember as no one. Every move his team made for the last 3 year was wrong wrong wrong. Also i think that Usyk could be one of the few elite boxers that are clean, and not roiding up. His body transformation with the added weight and how his body is looking now is speaking of it. This is just a guess tho.