Rank these fighters based on how hard of a fight they’d give Usyk

Sure I can go in order:

1. Bowe’s mix of size and elite inside-fighting makes him Usyk's toughest fight here. If Bowe manages to corner Usyk, he has the tools to do serious damage. However, Bowe never had great footwork nor did he ever show the ability to cut off the ring effectively, and his defense often lagged behind his offense. I think Usyk’s movement and speed would allow him to dominate from the outside, out-pointing Bowe while avoiding the pocket. Bowe makes it competitive, but he wouldn't be able to catch Usyk consistently enough to win.

2. Liston is often ranked high here, but I don't think he has the style to beat Usyk. He had a great jab, left hook, was good at hooking off the jab and had good head movement, with even Ali finding him hard to hit for much of their fight. I think Liston would likely win the first few rounds as Usyk adjusts to his jab and reach. However, once Usyk solves the timing of Liston's jab, he takes the primary weapon away and once that is gone Liston doesn't have the tools to deal with Usyk. Liston tended to struggle with elite movers, and Usyk is arguably one of the best in heavyweight history. I see the fight having a tentative start from Usyk as he figures out the range but once he does he puts on a dominant clinic, ending in a clear decision or a late-stoppage.

3. Well I'll try to be unbiased since many know my criticisms of Foreman. Foreman was great against opponents he can physically intimidate and force onto the ropes. Usyk, however, has the frame, strength, and IQ to negate that. Without the ability to bully his opponent, Foreman’s technical limitations would be exposed. Usyk’s movement and pace would force Foreman to chase him all the while being picked off a range leading to a drained gas tank by the middle rounds. Once Foreman tires, Usyk turns up the volume, eventually stopping a fatigued Foreman late.

4. This is the easiest matchup for Usyk. Dempsey would be smaller then most modern cruiserweight limit and would be severely outmatched in size and technique. Dempsey was aggressive and fast but he was also pretty one-directional fighter andstruggled when opponents utilized lateral movement and angles (as seen in the Tunney fights). Usyk’s movement and southpaw angles would leave Dempsey swinging at air, leading to a one-sided beatdown.

5. Cooney was a good puncher, particularly with the left hook, but he was essentially a one-handed fighter. While his body work could theoretically trouble Usyk, he simply didn't have the footwork to trap him. Once Usyk neutralizes that left hand and forces Cooney to use his underdeveloped right, the fight is over. Usyk’s pace would eventually break Cooney down for a late TKO.

6. Golota was a well-rounded heavyweight with solid fundamentals, but he lacked the elite skillset and mental fortitude required to disrupt Usyk’s rhythm. Once Usyk figures out the predictable patterns in Golota’s work, he would overwhelm him with his pace and more developed skillset. It likely looks competitive for the first third of the fight before Usyk takes over and stops him in the middle-to-late rounds.

So in terms of difficulty Bowe>Liston>Foreman>Golota>Cooney>Dempsey

 

Riddick Bowe was far better than AJ and Fury...

 

Bowe had excellent footwork and ability to cut off the ring.

 

Really? Never showed it any of the fights I watched but sure if you say so.

 

I doubt it. IMO you need 2 things more than anything in boxing: 1) Confidence 2) Defense (especially nowadays with people bigger than ever). Bowe wasn't confident enough to fight Lennox. Fury thinks he can beat anybody. I think AJ is somewhere in between the two. Bowe was getting hit a lot in every big fight. Fury was barely getting hit against Wlad and had other fights where he is hard to hit. Again, AJ is somewhere between the two.

 

Foreman
Bowe
Liston
Dempsey
Cooney
Golota

 

Bowe
Dempsey
Foreman
Golota
Cooney
Liston

Bowe is big and fluid offensively a high volume attacker, he could be a threat.

Dempsey in his prime was an outstanding athlete, fast legs, explosive power punching. He could close the gap and hurt Usyk in an exchange early.

Foreman, could cut off the ring, but this isn’t foot in the bucket Norton that can’t fight going backwards. Foreman lost to a post prime Ali, and Jimmy Young in the 70s. He’s slow and easy to hit and judging by the Ali fight pretty bad stamina against a guy with exceptional stamina.

Golota has the skill to compete and Usyk is not a big puncher which was Golota’s Achilles heal. Still Golota found a way to lose most of his big fights.

Cooney punchers chance

Liston an excellent offensive boxer but was lost at sea against stellar footwork. Would look slow and confused here.

 

Good post. However, Usyk does not have the foot speed to keep Foreman at bay. Not even close. Even Dubois managed to trap Usyk against the ropes but Dubois isn't durable enough or gutsy enough to go for it. Foreman was far more durable than Dubois and had far more offensive weapons - better left hook, better right uppercut, better left uppercut. If Usyk get's on the ropes, even momentarily, Foreman will unleash the type of power on him that he hasn't had to deal with. And no way Usyk could do rope a dope.

Some fighters are too strong to be kept away through movement and counters. Usyk has good footspeed but he isn't a 25 year old Ali, foot speed wise. Usyk has never faced a devestating two handed heavyweight puncher who also has a great chin. Dubois and Joshua could be discouraged from attacking consistently due to their average chins. Foreman can't be dissuaded from attacking since he was very durable.

 

It's not just about foot speed it's about lateral agility, which Usyk has in spades. Foreman was great at cutting the ring against stationary targets or pressure fighters like Frazier and Norton, but he struggled against movers. Gregorio Peralta, a natural Light-Heavyweight, took a prime Foreman the distance by staying mobile, and Usyk is a vastly superior, larger, and more athletic version of that archetype.

Even if George momentarily corners him, Foreman requires his feet to be set to unload his heavy hooks and uppercuts. Usyk’s constant pivoting wouldn't give Foreman the platform needed to land with full power before Usyk circles out. Furthermore, Foreman never had the best gas tank in his prime and he would not be able to fight at Usyk’s high-volume pace for 12 rounds. Eventually, the gas tank fails, and Usyk would turn it on against a tired opponent. Unless you assume Foreman can magically pin down one of the greatest movers in heavyweight history and then unload on him for free, but I think the tactical advantage sits firmly with Usyk.

 

1. Liston
2. Bowe
3. Foreman
4. Golota
5. Cooney
6. Dempsey

 

Well said.

 

I think Liston and Bowe beat Usyk but he beats the rest.

 

He beats them all pretty easily. Love Foreman, but a terrible style match-up. Liston is in modern day parliance a weight bully. Bowe overrated and undisciplined. Dempsey too small. Golota is Golata and Cooney is Cooney. Cooney also has a terrible style disadvantage because he lacks a right hand. But, if I had to pick...

Foreman
Bowe
Liston
Cooney
Dempsey
Golota

 

That was my instinctive first thought, as well. This is assuming the best versions of Liston and Bowe are in this hypothetical matchup.
But with that being said, we might not have seen the best version of Usyk, either. We’ve never seen Usyk have to dig deep inside himself; at least not like Ali in the Thrilla in Manila fight, or SRL vs Hearns. There’s no reason to believe he doesn’t have that dog in him, it’s just that we haven’t seen him pushed that far. Usyk is like Mayweather in the sense that by the second half of the fight, he’s figured out his opponent and begins pulling away. Then at the end of the fight he comes across like he still had another gear he could’ve used if needed.

 

Usyk beats them all.

Bowe gives him the hardest time. This could go sideways.

Liston is next with that jab and underrated boxing ability.

70's George is just oafish for his small size here. He's a smaller, less skilled Dubois. But he can pressure.

Cooney has a puncher's chance and had heart.

Dempsey has too many sloppy lapses where Usyk would chin him.

Golota was a stiff.