USYK has NOT been granted EXTENSION

Tbf Parker is looking better than Vitali did coming up to the Lewis fight. He has a much deeper resume and fought most of the guys in the division and he could feasibly be the top dog with out Usyk around.

This is compared to Vitali who won the WBO against Herbie Hide and lost to the only legit guy in the top 10 he fought prior to Lewis in Byrd and was labelled a "quitter" at the time. If you had asked people at the time if Vitali was "championship material" a lot would have said no, the main reason people gave him a chance was because it was a last minute change and Lewis was looking unfit and under prepared.

 

Of course he does. He's trained multiple world champions. ....but he's just as susceptible to subjectivity, bias, and lazy thinking as anyone else.

 

I do wonder how much 3 years of Russia trying to invade his country influences his thinking.

 

He's excited for 3rd Fury fight because he will be paid lots and lots of money.

I don't understand the romanticism of people on this forum, these are professional boxers, they aim for maximum paydays, they don't think about revenge, legacy, love, hate etc when choosing opponents.

 

Did OldSchool ever link a source for Atlas saying Itauma would KO Usyk? Because I watched his review on the Itauma v. Whyte fight and while he was highly complimentary of Itauma, I don't recall him saying anything close to that. In fact, it sounds completely out of character for Atlas to say something like that. He's been an Usyk fanboy for years, consistently called him the P4P #1, and talked about him being a Top 10 all-time HW.

Seems weird he'd look at a kid with 13 pro fights against absolute nobodies and come to the conclusion he'd KO Usyk no muss no fuss.

 

Google: Teddy Atlas itauma usyk, click the first link you see.

 

Sure, that could also pay a role, but you completely missed my point and downplayed it all to: "he just wants the biggest paycheck". Human psychology does go further than just greed. We have seen plenty of times in boxing where someone turns down a risky, career high payday for a lesser fight.

 

He whoever is, turns down that risky fight, because he knows he will get much bigger paydays if he skips that fight. It's all about calculation. Now Usyk and his team are calculating their options to capitalize on maximum paydays in 2 or 3 fights left in Usyk's career.

 

Lol, sure. I have seen this happen enough times to know that its not often the case.

 

Surely you’re not inferring that boxing is corrupt? Hush your mouth!

 

Ok. Did that.

https://www.secondsout.com/news/teddy-atlas-on-usyk-itauma/

Speaking on his own ‘The Fight’ podcast, Atlas advised Itauma to get some more experience before stepping in with the two-time undisputed legend and said he would never ‘go against’ the Ukrainian to come out victorious.


“I would wait on a Uysk fight. I know that Turki Al-Sheikh is talking about that and that might come to pass, but for me, if I’m with Moses, I’m saying let him get one or two more fights before we go to the top of Mount Everest. Let’s climb a couple more peaks, and then we’re ready for the ultimate.

I don’t want to see the Usyk fight. And I’m very honest about the reasons why. I want to see Usyk go off into the sunset. I’m not saying he can’t beat him, I’m not saying that, I won’t go against Usyk with anybody, he’s that special, but I think at this point in his career, after Usyk gets through his next fight, let him go off into the sunset.”

Funny. Nowhere does it say that Teddy thinks Itauma for sure knocks Usyk out.

 

Teddy is just being polite here, he hints that Itauma beats Usyk, and he says he doesn't want to see that.

 

Oh so he didn't actually say it



Ffs

 

Yeah, I want Usyk to fight Parker and beat him. But if Usyk doesn't want to fight him, then strip him and let the division keep moving. This isn't a radical or controversial take.