It’s time we have this discussion again, I can see a case for either. Is it at least close? Who wins this matchup?
Ali. Usyk won't be able to deal with the quicker man. The tricks that work vs big slow heavyweights do not work well vs a man who can beat him to the punch and move quicker on his feet.
Yes it's close. Neither is a huge puncher, so very little chance of a KO. Ali has the edge when it comes to physical attributes like speed and reflexes, but Usyk is far more skilled, and that's what will give him the edge. Usyk wins on points.
But, since he doesn’t rely on the opponent coming to him, could he back Ali up, throw off Ali’s timing with constant feints up and down with the feet and hands and maybe put him into bad positions on the ropes and maybe force Ali to work more than he wants? Usyk rarely oversteps when on the front foot, he brings his feet with him behind every punch and doesn’t overreach.
He could. Sure. But unlike the opponents he has faced, Ali can adjust by throwing right hand leads. Something the big heavies can't do. Also Ali liked his opponents coming onto him. Usyk doesn't need to back him up since Ali will be dancing on his back foot anyway. Feinting wouldn't bother Ali so much because he had such immense confidence in his chin. And Ali took body shots from Foreman and Frazier so i doubt anything Usyk can do downstairs will bother him. Would it be competitive? sure. Ali didn't like jabbers. And Ali can't knock Usyk out. So Usyk will make it competitive with his jab. But ultimately the quicker man will beat the slower man to the punch. Usyk has rarely faced fast fighters. Michael Hunter was an exception and he troubled Usyk in the early rounds with his speed. Gassiev, Huck, even Breidis- none of these guys are fast. Usyk is fantastic but he is not accustomed to quick fighters. I If they fight 3 times, do i think Usyk can win one decision? Sure. He has a great jab and excellent stamina. But given how he has rarely faced quick durable high endurance heavyweights, i am perplexed by people picking him to beat Ali based on him beating Daniel Dubois.
there are likely only a handful of blokes in history who handle usyk, ali being one. lewis, tyson and holmes also are probably too much for him. beyond that i get would get very nervous parting with my money and betting against him.
i wish Big Joe Parker got his shot instead. Usyk would have beaten him but at least Parker would have made it competitive and hence, we wouldn't have to hear this stuff.
I shudder to think of the turmoil in here if the forum existed during Tysons title run. The paid boxing scribes were bad enough, imagine in here. Devon and co might not have slept for days after some of his demolitions. The forum would have imploded after the Spinks KO, it would have crashed. Tyson would have been not only the #1 heavyweight, Greb, Langford and SRR would have been in enormous peril.
It's Dubois for crying out loud not Foreman, Holmes, Holyfield, Lewis, Tyson. I remember when Usyk fought Dubois the 1st time he wasn't even ranked in the top 10 and people thought it was a rubbish fight at the time especially after Dubois's performance vs Lerena. Impressive performance from Usyk but he was expected to win and he was an overwhelming favourite against a fighter he'd already beat easily who is simply not that good.
I mean I’ll keep saying it, Usyk absolutely has good odds to beat Ali, Usyk is a very skilled southpaw something Ali never faced, Ali also wouldn’t have a significant size or skill advantage like usual MA wouldn’t actually be Usyk’s superior in any meaningful way; punch, speed, stamina etc and some things would swing OU’s way but most would be about even. Classic of course will continue to grossly underrate the guy sensing a change of the guard, couple more defences and there’s an argument for taking a few greats to the chop shop in HW top 10s.