Why does Usyk seem to avoid in-form contenders?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Finkel, Feb 27, 2026.

  1. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Guy, think to yourself...you don't even have to answer me.

    What do you personally think Hrgovic and Whyte add to the narrative of Usyk's career?

    Now, I hope he gets to Kabayel, and I still think he will. But there is time on the clock for that. So just ask yourself personally what Whyte, Hrgovic...add Zhang and Joyce if you like...what are they supposed to add?
     
  2. Finkel

    Finkel Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think adding more Top 5~10 names to his resume would drive him up the ATG rankings. No complaints, I would be back on the band waggon. I'm taking a detour at present. I can still enjoy him fighting

    Btw, here's one for you.
    Are you not conscious that you are starting to sound an awful lot like the most hardcore Fury fans we were both arguing with a few years back?
     
  3. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Not really. Fury beat Klitschko and disappeared. He never fought Joshua, Povetkin who was probably #2 at the time, Parker, Ruiz...

    No parallel is to be made.
     
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  4. Finkel

    Finkel Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You don't see an ever so slight alignment with how Fury fans defended his rematch of Chisora saying as long as he fights X,Y, Z next. He then followed it up with Ngannou, he also had some "injuries" to delay Usyk twice.

    We have jumped from Parker to Wardley to Kabayel, and he is fighting Verhoeven instead. Also had an dubious injury to delay fights. He also floated better names before picking a subpar one just like Fury used to do.

    That's an uncanny parallel if you ask me
     
  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    It's ridiculous. Usyk is looking for one voluntary, Fury wanted nothing but exhibitions. I wanted Usyk to fight Parker, and I still hope he gets around to it, but one novelty fight is not the end of the world.
     
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  6. delboy82

    delboy82 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    he has wiped out all those anyone may have considered better than him, he removed all doubt he is the top dog, took all the bets and now time to reward all that hard work with retirement money.
     
  7. rolzone

    rolzone Active Member Full Member

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    Unf at the highest levels it’s a money game. You graft through those early years and want to make as much as you can on your way out. I’ll probably do same.
     
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  8. GGGfans

    GGGfans Active Member Full Member

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    - In 2019, Usyk moved up to the heavyweight division.
    - In 2021, Joshua was a bigger fight than Joyce, by far.
    - In 2024, Usyk wanted to face Hrgovic when Fury got injured, but Turki refused.
    - For Wardley and Kabayel, Usyk is too old.
     
  9. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I like the football analogy.
    Ali and Louis are Real Madrid and Barcelona.
    Fury and AJ make Usyk look like Man united or Atletico, the truth is in historic terms Usyk is West Brom level, Joshua and Fury, QPR and Hull City respectively.
     
  10. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Usyk is shot or close to being shot. That's the only explanation I can think of given his past exemplary record. He must realise it himself, given the fact he is so inactive and has now chosen a Mayweather - McGregor-esque farce bout, so he wants to maximise his money for as little apparent risk as he can. All whilst protecting his 0, of course.
     
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  11. miniq

    miniq FURY COMETH 2026 Full Member

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    Usyk can only fight once a year at top level for his PED cycle. He isn't going to cycle for Whyte and bad paydays.
     
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  12. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You're confusing him with Tyson Fury.
     
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  13. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Let's see:
    1. Hrgovic + Parker + Wardley + Kabayel = $100M
    2. AJ + AJ + Dubois + Fury + Fury + Dubois + Verhoeven = $500M
    And his country is in war. Thus, he chose the 2nd path.
     
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  14. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    If he had fought Hrgovic/Kabayel, then they would say "Why didn't he fight Itauma instead of Hrgovic/Kabeyel who are mediocre?".
    If he fought Itauma, they would say: "Why didn't he fight Gassiev instead of a green Itauma?".
    If he fought Gassiev, they would say "Why didn't he fight Torrez Jr instead of Gassiev who he had already beaten in crusierweight?".
    And so on.

    They will never stop.
     
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  15. Gold duck

    Gold duck New Member Full Member

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    Why would he take any of those fights at those times? He had a transitional fight, had a gatekeeper fight, and then went straight for the belts.

    Both AJ and fury had rematch clauses, and Dubois 2 was to address the controversy. He was widely touted to fight Parker, but Parked ****ed it against Wardley.

    Wardley is still not a big enough name/draw, but if he gets by Dubois then you can be sure we will see Wardley Usyk for 3x undisputed.

    Usyk has beaten 1, 2, and 3 in division twice. Instead of fighting 4 (kabayel) or 5 (Wardley), he's taking a money fight (for the first time), and seeing who emerges.

    If Wardley can't beat Dubois, should he really be in with Usyk?

    Don't like he's holding up the belts, but if it's a one off while the others figure out who emerges as the best of the rest, then can't begrudge him
     
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