We've seen blokes who won gold at the Olympics at Middleweight become H/W champ. And silver if we're going to count Roy & alphabet belts. Chris Byrd is another who made the Olympic final at Middleweight & was viable up at H/W. I reckon Canelo is as credible right now as any who've had a go previously including those who've succeeded. It kind of makes more sense than a fight with Beterbiev who is largely unknown.
Keep in mind that Usyk is bigger than BJS and Caleb Plant, and is LEVELS above both in terms of boxing skills. Also hits harder,has better chin and stamina. And beat every man he faced in the last 10 years. If you're Canelo's hater, you'd dream about this fight.
We saw Holyfield lose the H/W crown to a former Light Heavy champ. Could Usyk lose it to a Super Middle?
Just consider how fleet of hand and foot, athletic and agile Usyk is for a 220lb man and then shrink him down to 168 and see what kind of athletic phenom monster you'd be dealing with. It's very rare for a HW to be as fleet of hand and foot, athletic and agile a Usyk, let alone for one to also possess such impressive stamina and an iron chin but he was even faster and more agile down at CW. Clenelo wouldn't be able to lay a glove on him. It would be like his fight against Floyd all over again but this time it's a 168 pound Floyd with 168 pound power and limitless stamina. You think Clenelo is outworking Usyk or cracking that iron chin of his? Usyk threw almost 1000 punches against Gassiev, 218 of them being in the final two rounds 905 against Hunter, 121 of them in the final round Clenelo doesn't get anywhere near that high Usyk on his slowest gear is Clenelo going full throttle and Usyk can maintain fighting at a much higher gear than Clenelo can a lower one Usyk could beat Clenelo numerous ways, Clenelo could never beat Usyk in a million years even with his corrupt judges in his pocket and his PEDs jousted into his buttocks. Clenelo vs a HW or CW version of Usyk? Usyk is 6'3'' with a 78'' reach He would have anything from 20-40lbs on Clenelo Is faster of both hand and foot than Clenelo Is just as skillful if not more so and more versatile Is much more athletic and agile Has much better footwork He can move in and out of range effortlessly with the grace of a ballerina Has much better stamina Unlike that bum Plant he can box and move for the full 12 rounds no problem whatsoever whilst throwing close to 1000 punches Usyk hits harder and has dropped and stopped 277lb HWs Both have iron chins but Usyk's is iron against murderous punching HWs and CWs Clenelo's is tested at 168 and 175 against who exactly? A shot Kovalev who threw pity pats all night and whose power had diminished significantly even when throwing hard? BJS 2.0 and Caleb Plant? Rocky Fielding? The hardest puncher he's fought above 160 who was actually throwing full power shots is Callum Smith. You think Smith hits anywhere near as hard as Usyk, let alone Gassiev, AJ, Briedis, Chisora, Glowacki, Bellew, Huck, Hunter to name but a few Clenelo pooped his pants the only time Kovalev put some mustard on one of his rights and it wasn't a full power savage Krusher right hand of old like the ones that sounded like a gunshot Clenelo is the poster boy for corruption in the sport and has the most stacked deck in the game, Usyk is the complete antithesis of that Even the 200-220lb Usyk is far more athletically gifted, agile, faster and much more versatile than a 170-180lb Clenelo and has way better stamina and is iron-jawed and is every bit as tough P4P as him /thread Serge destroys
Usyk rocks the granite chinned ginger around the ring for 6 straight rounds, tainted beef is leaking all over the ring. By round 6 ribeye has been dropped 11 times but the ref insists that Canelo is warming into the fight and setting a trap - lets it go on another round until Canelo's corner throws in the towel in round 7. And we go to the scorecards. 70-63 Canelo, 70-63 Usyk, 114-114 - Draw IsaL/Shadow/Dren/22JM post for 5 years claiming that Canelo was robbed and the ref stopped the fight early.
Usyk has more skill. Easily will make Canelo his play thing. Canelo lost 4 times (Mayweather, GGG 1+2 and Lara) Usyk still undefeated.
The OP left some critical info out. First Usyk would be weight drained to 170. He can't have any protein or carbs 7 days before the fight, including the day of the fight. Can't drink water 3 days before the fight, including the day of. Usyk would Have to tie a memory foam pillow to his glove. Finally, Usyk would need tie his left hand to his right foot. Even then it's a 50/50 fight for me.