Wladimir Klitschko vs Oleksandr Usyk (primes)

This is the thing I don’t get. The complete dismissal of Usyk’s pop. Usyk showed against Fury that when he sits on his shots… he’s a MUCH more dangerous puncher than Chis Byrd. Much more. Both Joshua and Fury wouldn’t say “Usyk has no power” lol So would Bellew!

Prime for Prime I gotta favor Wlad. Slight edge. The Wladimir from 2006 to 2013 hardly lost any rounds!! And yes he fought some VERY good fighters. And prime Wlad had top 5 ATG power. But if anyone can surprise the world and come out the victor in a difficult fight where he’s up against it… it’s Usyk. 60/40 in Wlad’s favor.

 

I rate Usyk very, very highly. But there is truth in the saying Styles make Fights. I think Usyk vs Povetkin would be a close one, whereas Wlad made easy work of Pov (still in a hellish ugly fight).
Wlad absolutely destroyed Chagaev, Byrd and Ibragimov, three very talented southpaws. He was also able to keep up with Haye's speed. I think Wlad would always be a bad matchup for Usyk

 

Usyk wins. Wlad is overrated. Beating povetkin and haye is not better than beating joshua and fury. Both of whom old wlad lost to.

 

I'd go with this... I'd favour Usyk, but not nearly enough to bet on it.

Usyk being tricky to tie up (as Fury found) helps swing it - despite being smaller I just think his workrate and ring IQ would shade it, especially as the fight wore on.

 

Because Wlad was old.

But prime Wlad? He would've made mincemeat of both of them.

 

Bump

 

Nahh I think if anything, Wladimir is UNDERRATED. During his Steward trained reign at the top of the division, you could probably count on one hand the amount of rounds he legitimately lost. That’s dominance right there. And some of his wins during that time were top notch opponents. Sultan Ibragimov was extremely good. I actually think Sultan was better than Povetkin when at his best. Better counter puncher, faster hands, a little better chin and hit as hard.

And the prime Chagaev Wlad completely took apart would be top 3-4 today. Easy.

 

I'd favour Klitschko, he had a very fast and powerful 1-2 and also underrated footwork.

 

Wlad had the greatest straight right known to the division. If there is anything that is an anathema to southpaws it is that punch thrown straight and true, which Wlad did like no one else. I think he would just touch Usyk for the first 6 rounds, subtlety ratcheting up the power as the rounds past. That and his manhandling of the smaller man would pay off in the latter round when he would start unloading the heavy lumber at Steward's insistence.

 

Usyk is a more fluid fighter & he seems more consistent too.. but an in form Vladimir is a difficult task.. an athletic SHW with brilliant footwork, a piston like jab & a clinical finisher.. depends which WK shows up.. the half arsed lackadaisical Klitschko of the Jennings, Chambers, Ibragimov stinkers or the focused on point Thompson, Chagaev, Haye version... or.. the pre Steward one? Jackson, Mercer, Byrd.. Who was actually better in some ways, just more vulnerable.. Wladimirs right hand was a thing of beauty .. & he isn't scared to spoil too.. intriguing match up this.. Wlad performed well against the smaller quicker HWs like Byrd, Haye & Castillo.. but Usyk is a bit of a giant slayer.. prime for prime.. Wlad nicks a contentious SD.

 

To be fair to Wlad, Chambers and Ibragimov were running away from him for the whole fight and he was 39 when he faced Jennings.

 

Usyk

Wladimir likes to set his punches up following from the jab
He likes to be sure to find the range with the jab before throwing his punches
I think he would feel that he would have to keep resetting against Usyk and struggle to get off with timed shots
It was for that reason I picked Fury to beat Wladimir as I said his movements would offset Wladimirs offences
With Usyk he moves even more and I think has a little more snap in his punches

 

I think I voted Wlad when this first came out. But have slowly moved to Usyk in a tough one, mainly coming on string later in the fight. I think he has more pop in his punches then he often lets one.

 

Wlad nearly knocked out a better version of Joshua that Usyk beat, and he was in his 40s. I voted Wlad on points, but I think he smothers Usyk with his size, maybe even hurts him a couple of times, especially if Fury managed to hurt him with an uppercut. I don't see how Usyk beats Wlad, especially a prime Wlad. The version who lost to Sanders, yeah, but prime for prime, Wlad wins this one, too big and too heavy-handed. Pound for pound Usyk is probably above Wlad, but there's not much in it.