Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk vs. Tyson Luke Fury & Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis II - RBR.

No, just no, that was a swansong, a fine one at that.

 

I don't think he was unmotivated, he was always a methodical relatively low output fighter who was looking to counter, watch his fight against Huck for example.

 

For a 39y/o coming off a 2 year layoff that was a great effort from Briedis.

 

116-112, maybe 115 -113.

 

Breidis gave too many rounds away for free at the beginning to get a draw...

 

A shame Briedis was so inactive as he was well on top in the those last 3 rounds. But he did nothing for the first 7 rounds.

 

Jai just disappears in the championship rounds. He is a tank but someone who weathers the storm is gonna stop him in 9-12 sooner than later.

 

Briedis is a great fighter but he's a real enigma, we saw it again in tonight's fight. Average mixed with greatness.

 

Knockouts make you a draw, which gives you opportunities and makes you money. Also, as corrupt as judging is it's the only sure way to win. I find it hard to believe that people who could perform at a higher level decide to obscure their talents in order to hypothetically, maybe, somewhere down the line, possibly get a big fight because the name fighter underestimates them. I'd be more worried I was being overlooked for not being exciting enough. That would be like Mark McGwire bunting when he could be hitting home runs. I suppose anything is possible and it's probably happened once or twice, but I tend to see professional athletes as ego driven narcissists who would take every opportunity to show off that they can.

 

Right man got the nod.

 

This fight reminds me of Uchiyama Corrales. Uchiyama hurt Corrales at the end too, but just didn’t have enough in the tank.

 

Both men class act. The crown is passed.