Does beating Wardley enhance Usyk's HW Legacy (VIDEO)

Obviously it does.

Wardley is somewhat different from Dubois and Joshua. Wardley is not as skilled as Joshua and does not have the same fundementals and combination punching ability as AJ.

Dubois also has a better harder jab than Wardley and IMO Dubois is a slightly bigger puncher than Wardley.

But what Wardley does have is that he has a good chin. In that sense. he will be the first heavyweight Usyk has faced that is both a big puncher and has a very good chin. While Usyk could dissuade Joshua and Dubois from attacking due to their somewhat average chins, deterring Wardley might be a bit harder due to him being more durable.

So given that Wardley brings something unique to the equation compared to previous Usyk opponents, if Usyk beats him, it would add to his legacy as this is a type of fighter Usyk hasn't beaten yet at heavyweight.

That being said, Wardley is so defensively open to the right hook and the loopy Usyk left hand. I will be surprised if Usyk does not stop him.

 

Wardley’s chin is over-rated. Clarke, Huni and Parker are all not big punchers. Adeleye wasn’t skilled enough to land anything clean.

 

Probably not. It might cost him the mythical status he has now but he is 38, if he does lose it will probably be dismissed as an age thing while the myth of the "Prime Usyk" who beat Joshua and Fury will endure.

 

Of course it does. He'd be another top ranked contender on his resume.

 

Depends. If he struggles a lot, no. Wardley is not very good.

 

Agreed.

It's not proven enough for the assertions that it's granite...

It might be, or it might be decent+.

 

Up to a point, yes.

If it's too easy it won't get much credit...
... Unless...
Unless he goes on to be a major player in the next era, then it'll get more than it would immediately after.


Pretty much same as his Dubois fights - at the moment those wins look good rather than great... But if Dubois goes on to hold a belt for a while and beats some other contenders, it'll age well.

 

Yes but the extent may be debated.

 

Not much.

There's no one out there who enhances Usyk's HW legacy much. He has decimated an entire division and looked very good doing it.

 

Depends what Wardley goes onto achieve....

Think it's pretty clear though that the current batch of heavies arn't going to be anything super special. Ituama could be still young. Fury was the big cookie for Usyk's cookie jar.

 

Depends... It might be a bit crap for a few years, but then hopefully more will come through.

The biggest thing that'll define whether it's a good era or not is how much they avoid each other... If they all fight, I'm fine with it.

Fury and Joshua about equally, though for different reasons.... Everything else is decoration.

 

I'd say on par with beating Parker perhaps?

It would be a small improvement but nothing really noticeable, unlike beating AJ or Fury twice. Nowhere remotely near as if you're Riddick Bowe or Lennox Lewis and beating the other would be classified as your signature win.

 

Usyk's heavyweight resume is rich in quality but lacking in quantity. Anybody he adds enhances the quantity and Wardley is undefeated and coming off a career best win over the guy Usyk should have fought.

 

Time will tell.