Is Oleksandr Usyk the greatest Road Warrior of all time?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Perkin Warbeck, Aug 21, 2022.

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Is Oleksandr Usyk the best Road Warrior of all time?

This poll will close on Jan 5, 2050 at 8:12 AM.
  1. Yes

    70.4%
  2. No

    14.8%
  3. Not sure

    1.9%
  4. Greatest current road Warrior, but not of all time

    13.0%
  1. Perkin Warbeck

    Perkin Warbeck Boxing Aficionado Full Member

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    Usyk has wins over Gassiev, Breidis, Huck, Hunter, Chisora, Joshua and Glowacki in their home countries.

    Does anyone know of other boxers with similar or better road warrior records?
     
    mirkofilipovic and MorvidusStyle like this.
  2. gollumsluvslave

    gollumsluvslave Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I say yes!
    Burden of proof is on someone else to raise it. I can't thik of any other elite who always fights in opponents backyard. Duran?
     
  3. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Pacquiao
     
  4. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Carl Froch deserves a mention hes a bit of a meme now because of the 80k Wembley quote, but he fought plenty of fighters in their backyard.
     
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  5. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hard to argue
     
  6. gollumsluvslave

    gollumsluvslave Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Good call! Can't believe I missed Pacaman!
     
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  7. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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    Carl Froch once fought 80,000 fans in front of Wembley at George Groves stadium. Didn't you hear?
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2022
  8. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Honestly, you can do this with just about any name boxer who didn't participate in a lot of pro or title fights in his home country.

    How many times did Lennox Lewis have a significant fight in Canada, England or Jamaica? How many significant bouts did Wlad Klitchko fight in the Ukraine? Hell, how many of Primo Carnera's 102 pro fights took place in Italy or how many of Joe Bugner's fights took place in Hungary?

    Julio Cesar Chavez, Manny Pacquio and Felix Trinidad won a lot of belts over a lot of years, but they didn't fight for too many major titles at home too often.

    Usyk was just unique because the cruiserweight division had four champs from parts of the world where those of us in the west hadn't typically seen a lot of major title fights take place, like in Latvia, Poland and Russia. But lots of champs over the years fought on the road pretty much all the time.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2022
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  9. Perkin Warbeck

    Perkin Warbeck Boxing Aficionado Full Member

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    Quite a few in England, and let's not forget he moved to the USA.

    Every single big fight Usyk has ever had has been on the road.
     
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  10. JunlongXiFan

    JunlongXiFan Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Even if Primo Carnera and Joe Bugner fought outside of their home countries a lot they're definitely not giving Usyk any competition for greatest
     
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  11. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Brian Mitchell won the WBA super featherweight title in his native South African in 1986. He proceeded to go undefeated in 12 world title fights over the next five years, all away from home and most in the challenger’s backyard.

    The WBA banned title fights in South Africa over its apartheid policies and made Mitchell a nomad who couldn’t defend at home. (He had an occasional non-title fight at home during his reign.)

    His first defense was a majority draw in Puerto Rico vs. Jose Rivera (he won a rematch in Spain) and he also had a draw vs. Tony Lopez, the IBF champion, in Lopez’s hometown of Sacramento, California … and proceeded to beat Lopez six months later, also in Sacramento, to claim that IBF crown.

    He never lost a title fight and retired as champion.

    To me, he is the greatest road warrior champion in boxing history.
     
  12. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace

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    Yeah what's he's done is spectacular.
     
  13. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Every single big fight Wlad had was on the road. He had 69 pro fights. None of them were in the Ukraine. Every single big fight Trinidad had was on the road. When did he ever win a title in Puerto Rico? Every single big fight lots of champs have are on the road. Max Schmeling didn't beat Joe Louis, Jack Sharkey and Mickey Walker in Germany.

    Places like Latvia and Russia just weren't typical destinations for a title fight in boxing history, so they stand out.
     
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  14. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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    absolutely
     
  15. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

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    With the Klits, Germany was basically their home country at some point.