Why Did It Take So Long For Usyk's Talent To Be Recognized Properly?

Different thing completely. Usyk turned pro is his prime and has spent his career as most skilled fighter on the planet, but unless the resume matches the skills you wont get p4p number 1.

But this is an irrelevant conversation because in the timeframe you're talking about you didn't have Usyk number 1 anyways, you had Beterbiev. You also felt the highest skilled fighters you'd ever watched were Pacquiao and Jones.

 

Listen, I am playing Publisher's Clearing House app right now and I just cannot engage you in this thread, I am sorry. This is just not something I have time for. I am really, very sorry, but I am sorry and that is that. Good day!

 

"Pound for pound" is a stupid idea so I wouldn't worry about it.

Usyk is the best in the world at heavyweight which makes him the best absolutely.
When he was a 200 pounds he was still one of the best because it was obvious he'd be able to compete well at least in open heavyweight.

 

Unfortunately you can't rewrite history.

I mean you could go back and edit the posts from back then and pretend you didnt have Beterbiev as the best in the world, and pretend you didn't believe Jones and Pac were the most skilled fighters you'd ever seen.

But thats still how you felt then.

 

i thought he lacked size and power. i knew he had more skill than the rest, but that aint saying much when you consider how i felt about the rest. i underestimated his durability and snap.

 

This question surprises me more than Usyks achievements. Although I am kind of blown away at his dream heavyweight run to be fair to OP. But hes been a hot favourite of mine with Loma since before London. I thank this place educating of the best up and comers.

 

People were talking about Usyk from the very beginning. I don't think his talent was ever unrecognised.

 

I no longer eat cabbage

 

This. Hes always been a great talent. He just wasn't classed as p4p number 1 because his resume didn't demand it.

 

Well sometimes you don't see it coming.

 

IMO it's not a question of Usyk being underrated in his cruiser days; the problem is that people don't care much about cruisers and underrate their ability to be top heavyweights, although mythologize the golden era of the 70s, essentially made up of cruisers.
Even today I read that to win at heavyweight he has to overcome a "physical disadvantage", which is absolutely not true.