Could Usyk Hold His Own With The 70s Top Guy's?

I think he absolutely could hold his own but the people who say definitively that he would have beaten those guys, which is essentially labeling him the GOAT, may be a little ahead of their skis at present.

 

He'd be the new #4. Could maybe eek decisions out over Ali or Foreman, but I doubt that he'd be able to do it consistently. All of the four of them would give Usyk tough fights, and I think he loses to Frazier every time. He'd probably split decisions with Norton if they had a couple matches.

 

Usyk would definitely beat Foreman and Norton. Foreman struggled against movers and boxers he couldn’t bully, and Usyk’s footwork, angles, and stamina would be a nightmare for him. Norton’s cross-guard defense wasn’t effective against southpaws, and Usyk’s speed and versatility would exploit that.

Frazier would be a tougher style matchup, but Usyk has the tools to outbox him. Frazier was relentless but not the most versatile, and he never developed a strong right hand which is key for dealing with southpaws. Left hooks aren’t as effective against them, which limits Frazier’s best weapon.

Ali is a 50/50 fight, depending on who adapts better. Against ‘70s Ali, I’d slightly favor Usyk, but prime Ali could go either way. Usyk’s combination of speed, movement, and ring IQ makes him a tough fight for any version of Ali.

Overall, Usyk would be more than competitive in the ‘70s would be one of the best of the era, and capable of beating anyone from that time.

 

I think he beats Foreman and Norton, loses to Frazier and has a 50/50 fight with Ali.

 

A left-hander, with speed, agility and brilliant stamina, is a live against anyone...I see him beating Frazier bait the left hook and counter and use his feet to offset the bob and weave.

He'd be much faster than Foreman and if Ali can out-stamina George, so can Usyk.

Ali is probably a pick em fight - with Ali's hand and foot speed offsetting Usyk's

Usyk would probably enter the ring as the bigger guy against most of the 70s heavies as well, or certainly wouldn't be giving up so much in weight. He's a total package and a threat to anyone, no matter how legendary they were.

 

Sure, why not?

 

Of course.. If someone like Bugner could why couldn't an elite operator like Usyk? That era was known as the Golden era.. people think its untouchable but I don't.. they produced some great rivalries and were great fighters no doubt but they weren't infallible... Ali was nearly starched by Cooper who's basically a LHW.. Norton got a shellacking from a 188lb Garcia & then got beat up a bit by a short notice O'halloran (who was nothing more than a journeyman .. Norton refused to fight him again) ..

 

I'm not sure. Usyk has never had an easy night at heavyweight, never. AJ and Fury both gave him hell over 24 rounds. For me, Frazier mauls him, savages him, outworks, out hits and out guts him. Clear point win. Young George stops him with vicious body shots, the kind that would have stopped a lesser man that Ali. KO around the 10th. Ali, mmm, the GOAT but maybe the closest fight. Styles make fights and I think Ali wins a close fought chess match with neither man hurt but Ali's sublime skills and ability to absorb and react to pressure on the fly wins him a close but clear decision. And Norton? The Norton that beat Ali and gave Holmes a scare likely beats Usyk on points 3 times out of 5. Usyk is the GOHT, and there are levels. For me, he's standing on the shoulders of giants right now, let's see if his shoulders bear a similar load once we see where his career takes him...

 

Difference is he's constantly fighting bigger and stronger opponents whereas all the guys you mentioned are his size or smaller (also both the 1st Joshua fight and 2nd Fury fight weren't hell but clear wins and Duboius was a pretty easy night if you ignore the illegal low blow)

 

I think Dubois did much better than many expected and you can have clear wins in tough fights, which in my opinion the Fury and AJ fights were. With regards size, he might be the bigger man versus the 70s guys but I'm sorry, I don't see him as the better man. He himself has proved size isn't the be all and end all. Hey man, others will disagree with my opinion and that's cool. But we were asked for our opinions and, well, that's mine. For me he goes 0 and 4 with only Frazier and Foreman winning clear, as in by a distance clear or by ko...

 

Of course he could hold his own. The "cruiserweights" he fought and beat were as big as the top 70s fighters, so he wouldn't be too small. I'm not prepared to say he dominates, but he would be at the top of the heap.

I hope no one comes through with a ******ed take like "usyk would be a journeyman in the 70s"

 

No.

Norton in like 1970 the year. Sure.

 

Hes lost 25 rounds in 6 major HW fights.

 

He schooled AJ in the first fight, so you can say it was easy. Fight with Dubois was also easy, if you don't count the foul.