I first noticed in this interview that Usyk seems to be lighter than his usual 220-221 lbs heavyweight fighting weight: This content is protected When you look at his face, you can see that his cheekbones are more visible and his face is leaner. Then I saw this video of some promotional shooting, which was apparently done in Saudi Arabia the other day: [url]https://www.instagram.com/reel/C66PjF4INM3/utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==[/url] Maybe it's just the lighting, but I doubt it. He seems to be around 5-8 lbs lighter than he was against Joshua and Dubois. We won't know until the weigh-in, obviously, but I'm pretty sure he is the lightest he has been since the Witherspoon fight, maybe his lightest ever as a heavyweight.
He needs to move and react faster than usual. But the problem is, he don't have that speed anymore, nor his reactions are that fast, like before. I just hope we can see very good first 6 rounds, smart moves, angles, jabs and perfect timing. His footwork is still very solid, his stamina is impressive, so only thing will be, if he can do something about Furys dirty tactics. I believe Usyk will get some cuts, elbows and leaning from Fury.
More weight = more weight on the joints and knees and harder to move around Plus you don't want a 280lbs Fury leaning on you sapping energy whereas if you are constantly moving you are making him expend energy and gassing him out
All the more impressive that he is the reigning undefeated and unified heavyweight champion of the world then. But how is your post relevant to whether he is lighter than he was in the past few years again?
There is a thread with fighter updates and 12 min video from Usyk camp in Spain. You can see how he looks there. There is alao full photo shoot updates, but the lightning and angle is misleading. He won't come lighter. Around 220 which is his usual after AJ 1.
This was to say that I don't feel like Usyk is any lighter this week than last year. We'll see at the weigh-in but it must be around 100 kilos.
He'll probably weigh about the same as he has for his last three fights but his optimum fighting weight is between 207-210lb or 212lbs at most, anything more than that and it detracts from him. He can carry the extra weight and still be excellent but he is a significantly better fighter when 10lbs or so lighter and age has diminished him too As I've been saying for many years, the Usyk who fought in the WSB against all those giant SHWs who were much or way bigger and heavier than him and weighed between 208-213lbs would've been even more of a nightmare for all these HWs as a pro because he was faster, more fluid, combinations were more fluid, more nimble, with quicker reaction times and reflexes and better accuracy and as a pro the lighter CW Usyk had an even more impressive engine Crazy engine on him here This content is protected This content is protected Usyk 211lbs - Nistor 233lbs Usyk 213lbs - Modugno 277lbs Usyk 210lbs - Majidov 235lbs Usyk 211lbs - Joyce 238lbs Usyk 209lbs - Brechlin 263lbs Usyk 208lbs - Fa 246lbs This content is protected