WBO officially orders Joshua vs Usyk

Usyk ain`t going to beat anyone. He and his team are delusional. He is 34 and a half, with just 2 matches at HW, which first of them was garbage level, and Chisora is a gatekeeper, who is also very far from what boxer Joshua is, and even he gave Usyk a tough match.
Last time i see a prime Usyk was against Gassiev 3 years ago. From that point on he is getting worst and worst.
He 500% declined in terms of physically from that point on, and he is a shell of his former self.
Anyone who not see this obviously have zero eye for boxing and to see when fighter is sliding.
Prime Usyk may have chance against Joshua if he was to switch early on, but the guy switch at his 31, and for a 3 years time he was been hugely inactive, struggle to gain a functional muscle mass, and is declining every single day, and for 3 years at the HW, he got exactly 2 matches, which is an absolutely disaster.
This was the worst move in his career. He would have more money staying at CW and destroy everyone, and retired unbeaten.
Garbage decision by Usyk.

Prime Usyk was super fast on his feet, was creating insane angles, his hands were insanely fast, his reflexes was second to noone, and most importantly his pressure and punch output was insane. He was pressing on his opponents and they couldn`t keep on his pace, and he demolishes them.
Against Chisora he didn`t have the energy to do so, cause he is obviously declined, and he doesn`t have the stamina any longer.
Just look what Usyk did to Hunter in the last few rounds, and how insane his pace was in the closing rounds, and compare it to Chisora fight for example.

Its pain me to see Usyk like that, but its all his and his team fault.
This fight is going to be similar to Povetkin one. Usyk will be competitive until a moment, his speed and cardio later one will took a hit, just like it happen with Povetkin, he will be slower and will get slayed by Joshua.
Oh and he was complaining about ring rust after Chisora fight, yet again he has not fight for almost a year. It affect him even more again.
Garbage decision from Usyk camp all around.

 

This will be a big test for Usyk.

Anyone else think it's a bit soon for him as a heavyweight?

How many legitimate heavyweights has he faced?

Chisora is game, and strong, but he's not Joshua.

Joshua will be a big test in terms of raw power and his physicality, and Usyk has no real experience facing this much bigger men.

Yes, Usyk has talent in abundance...but, has he got the power to really hurt Joshua enough to keep him from walking through his best shots and putting on him?

I've said since the Fury vs Wilder announcement that I've got this unpleasant, nagging, feeling that Wilder will pull something out of the bag, beat Fury, and then Usyk will outpoint AJ, leaving us with Wilder vs Usyk for the undisputed title sometime in early 2022.

Now, one might argue that, if they win those fights, they deserve to go at it for all the straps.

Which is true.

But, after all the arguing and the nonsense, and being two Brits, I've wanted to see Fury take on Joshua for years...and it may well never end up happening.
The fact we are nearly in summer 2021 and we've still not seen Wilder vs AJ, or Fury vs AJ, is testament to how dysfunctional this sport is.
There is far too much double dealing, promoter politics, behind the scenes nonsense, personal animosity, and general toxicity, in boxing...and it is responsible for robbing us, the fans, of the big fights we should be getting.

Remember, like all sports, boxing is nothing without the fans.

Without the fans they are boxing in silence, in empty rooms.

Without fans there is nobody watching at home.

No fans in the stadium or buying PPV means there is no money in the sport.

Advertisers won't pay money because there's no audience to sell stuff to.

So, a bit more appreciation of the fans and less petty rivalry might help.

 

You feel like Usyk has left it too late to move up, and is in irrevocable decline?

 

Not everyone can stay on their physical prime after their 32+. Actually quite a few elite fighters manage to do so. And the decline is very fast after that age.
You could look great at 33-34 , and in a few months to look like a shadow of yourself.
And yeah he is on the slide for quite some time. He is way too inactive, way too inexperience at HW, and he is way unprepared for a big HW like Joshua, who is still in his prime, while Usyk is past it.
Usyk got no chance.

 

Must admit, I feel like he's taking on a bit too much.

He's had one fight against a heavyweight - and whilst game and very strong, Chisora is hardly elite.

Stepping up to face a fully fledged super heavyweight who hits hard, could be a bit too much to overcome.

Do you think his only chance is to move a lot, back pedal, stay on the outside, and box to a plan with the express intention of out scoring Joshua to a points decision?

Also, you'd have to assume there'll be a rematch clause put in to protect Joshua just in case there is an upset, wouldn't you say?

 

This is not the wild west or some Baltimore back alley, you don't have to threaten anyone if you could box circles around him, just ask Floyd.

 

Honestly Usyk is the better boxer of the two and he likes to pick away at opponents from as long a range as he can before going back into safety. Joshua is best when he is in "mid range" and can push opponents off and swing fast hooks like he did with Pulev. AJ seems to have a go to combination after each time he does that hold/throw/sneaky hook strategy so I'm sure Usyk will have his team watching that over and over to avoid getting in that range. Tough nights work for AJ.

 

Usyk has lived the life seemingly, also he isn't guilty of coming in over what he is naturally able to carry(TRT exemptions). In terms of biological age I suspect Usyk is still prime and if AJ beats him it should be applauded as such.

 

Prime b.c. If you even small understanding and eye for boxing, you can clearly see how far past his best he is.
Just looking at his punching output will tell you the story. But his reflexes, speed, footwork and stamina is way below than what its used to be.
But you are downplaying Usyk from quite some time.

 

Takam isn't small, just short, and whyte is 6'4. Povetkin can be considered small though

 

There not only Usyk is past prime, only for you Usyk does have this reality and he was so " cool " by inability to sell in Kiev, this reason why he fought in backyards.
So popular he was in Kiev.

 

Fight of the life for Usyk.

Usyk holds off the bodybuilder for 4 or 5 rounds. Then when Joshua's gas tank is about to end Usyk begins to school him with his superlative technique.

Usyk for UD or also for TKO in the last rounds. Joshua Is exhausted.

 

Bodybuilder most likely will rush on him and if bodybuilder will be down, he will get long count, if Usyk, then we might expect fast stoppage by ref ASAP.

Each barely close round will go to bodybuilder and comments will be casual for A side kid.

Usyk most likely should exaust bodybuilder's gas tank till he will barely able to move or KO him to get a win.
I might be happy If I'm not wrong but bodybuilder is cash cow lad.

 

Joshua will try to fight with Usyk as he did with Wlad (same motivation, respect and concentration) but Wlad was much easier to hit than Usyk. Usyk's footwork Is the best in the HWs. Joshua will waste a lot of energies this time.

 

No option for AJ to vacate and duck Usyk?
I think Usyk and Joyce fight for the vacant belt myself.
Usyk plays with AJ