Is Usyk suffering from Canelo syndrome?

After fighting the likes of Joshua, Fury and Dubois, unified heavyweight champion Usyk has expressed a desire to fight Deontay Wilder, a washed-up fighter who has a poor reputation when it comes to taking big fights. This isn't the first time we are witnessing this phenomenon. Following his unification of the super heavyweight division and an unsuccessful challenge of Dimitry Bivol at 175, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez was accused of picking 'soft' targets for his following fights - washed-up Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, Jaime Manguia, Edgar Berlanga, William Scull and former undisputed welterweight champ Terrence 'Bud' Crawford. The last fight did not quite follow the script that was written for Canelo, but none of these fights was what the boxing fanbase had demanded. Is Usyk trying to follow the same pattern now? Avoiding Wardley and the other young, hungry dogs? Or is it that he has nothing left to prove? Or is it a smart investment?

 

Not even a close comparison. Far from it. Canelo has been picking his opponents for years. Usyk has fought title holders and top boxers since he left the CW division except for a couple guys as he dipped his toes into the HW waters. He has 1 maybe 2 more fights till retirement; Canelo was picking during his prime years.

All this criticism has come about because Usyk is being more businesslike in his last couple fights. Make the most profitable bouts I'd recommend then Walk away. Is Wilder a cherry pick? Sure, but it would make more money than a Wardley fight if it was in the US.

 

Canelo had Mayweather Syndrome. Lewis vacated the belts when Ruiz and Byrd were his mandatories to fight a worn out Tyson.

 

No, unlike Canelo, he is OLD! He's like 1-2 fights away from retiring with a HoF Career and no questionable wins, with a much more accomplished amateur record.

 

"Hey Oleksandr we want you fight Fury end of 2026 can you wait that long" - No
"Hey Oleksandr how about we give you your typical flat rate $20m to fight someone easy then" - Yes sure
"Hey Oleksandr how about Joe Parker? you can fight anyone it doesn't matter really" - Yes
"Hey Oleksandr he got chinned because he's overrated by another overrated fighter in Wardley" - Give me Deontay Wilder

Getting paid the same either way. Belt dropping left right and centre because they're hot garbage regardless.

Usyk on paper should retire....just turns out that with the right buisness moves he can make another $50-70m in what will be his final year in boxing....can't blame him. He's already done it all.

 

Yes
He has less career fights
career pro bouts: Canelo 68, Usyk 24.
but likely has the = mileage because of his age
& amateur experience.

 

Kabayel > Zhang > Wilder
Wardley > Parker > Wilder

That's four "hot garbage" fighters who are clear levels above Wilder, based on form.

 

All above him but all more dangerous although Usyk on form smashes them all...so he will go for the easiest who they will pay him for...in this case Wilder.

It's all about who king Turki will allow.

 

Exactly. De la Hoya has openly admitted to using Floyd's blueprint for Canelo's career. Canelo got the hang of it lol

 

Well, no. Usyk doesn't lose fights.

 

This is not the best fight for Usyk IMO, as he could have gone for a more challenging opponent. That being said, Wilder is a very dangerous opponent who can KO almost anyone with a single punch. Who did Canelo fight like that?

 

This is worse than anyone Canelo fought. Canelo didn't fight any completely shot fighters.

 

Is Usyk trying to follow the same pattern now?
No.
Avoiding Wardley and the other young, hungry dogs?
Avoiding is far from a suitable descriptor for the last half of Usyk's career. His resume is as good as any.
Or is it that he has nothing left to prove?
He really doesn't but with a few big fights and getting on the right side of Sheikhs, the potential money to be made will go a long way in post-war Ukraine. He may do a Vitali/Manny thing and get political.
Or is it a smart investment?
For sure. I wouldn't begrudge him an exhibition against Jake Paul (provided he's not a pancake after Joshua if that happens) at this point, a trot out against Wilder just for the style matchup/optics could be fun.

 

Nah, he's suffering from Holmes & Lewis syndrome, who ducked mandatories to take easier fights.

 

Could be down to the type of camp he thinks he can do going forward. His previous camps are know to be crazy intense. He's getting old.