I'm still trying to figure out what people are getting freaked about- Usyk looks trim & in great shape as always, doesn't seem to get fat between fights - what's the big deal?
Usyk has to work much harder in the gym to compete at HW than he did down at CW. That's why his camps are so long. When you work as hard as he does in the gym you have to eat an awful lot to build up to and maintain the weight “You know, being a heavyweight means you have to be really heavy. You must eat a lot. It’s not hard to fight with these giants, but it’s really hard to eat all the time. “And now I work much more than I did as a cruiserweight, particularly in the training camps. I had to swim ten kilometres and train hard. At this moment I just want to stop and take a rest. “A half of a year of training is hard work. I didn’t see my family for such a long time, I didn’t see my wife, children or anyone.”
lol, when has Usyk tired out after 4 rounds? Especially now that he's gonna bring his weight down even more. It's not possible. Fury could gas out before Usyk, since he'll be searching for and missing him all night.
Let's just be glad this fight is looking like it's getting made because it's one for the ages.. the two stand out heavy weights and one of them arguably the pound for pound best fighter on the planet.. brilliant boxers both with high ring IQ & characters to boot.. I think this is the best HW matchup in decades.. I'd venture to say it might even be bigger than Holyfield vs Lewis because Evander was fairly inactive, 37 & probably on the slide by then... although he was a far more proven HW.. certainly bigger than WK v Haye..
If we get Fury vs. Usyk, it will be a defining fight for both men. It's what Ali vs. Frazier 1 was. 2 undefeated champions. I'll pay to see that.
"Who would Cunningham have beaten on Usyk's resume down at crusier?" Probably most of them. Cunningham stopped a better version of Huck in Germany than the one Usyk did. He went the distance with Glowacki and won most of the rounds he didn't get knocked down in, at 39. I'd say the one Fury fought beats those guys, plus Mchunu and Bellew, especially with the hometown advantage Cunningham enjoyed. Gassiev and Hunter would be interesting fights, Briedis beats him.
Usyk is smart enough to be able to avoid Fury with his feet....he also has an extreme warrior spirit. Cunningham was mentally done in that fight just as much as he was physically. Cunningham is about as tough to the body as Usyk if not more...them solar plexus shots will cripple Usyk. I think people are underestimating how Fury will limit Usyk's offence with the physical pressure and his early boxing with his height and reach advantage. The early rounds won't be easy to nick and when Fury starts to put the pressure on offence won't be on the front of Usyk's mind. Fury doesn't allow "eb and flow" he is a constant. & if Fury is on form firing on all cylinders he will hurt Usyk at range early and probably finish him...then everyone will be like "how did this happen?!" "How come AJ couldn't hurt him this badly when he hits harder? "
Not taking anything away from Usyk but Joshua was absolutely perfect for him. A big lump with slow feet, limited head movement who sits behind the jab and fights in bursts. Its a great match up for somebody like Usyk who was given the time and space to work his magic. Compare to the Chisora fight. Although Usyk won comfortably he was still made to work a lot harder than either Joshua fight. Chisora used his size and weight advantage and had Usyk backing up for all 12 rounds. Fury will use that as the blueprint imo. He won't fall into the Joshua trap of trying to box the p4p #1.
Fury will still try to box him early doors. All it would take is one of them 1,2's he landed on Chisora and Usyk would be on ***** street.