I was with you when he was doing the right thing. Dubois 2 was questionable. But holding the belts as long as possible without meaningful defending them is a crime against the sport. The pressure SHOULD be the highest at the top. Look how long kabayel is already waiting for his deserved FIRST shot at a title. Those old champs with names should just relinquish all titles, then there is no critizism. But they won't because the money is connected to them and they see themselves as the best but don't want to prove it. You expect everyone to just hail usyk in spite of that? No matter the career before, that is just bad behavior and has consequences for the boxing landscape and the challengers. He made over a hundred million as far as i understand. There is no victory lap with the belts. Especially not when you fight once a year...
You misunderstand me. No, he isn't and shouldn't be above criticism. That's not my point at all. Kabayel deserves his shot and Usyk absolutely deserves criticism for that but it should be proportional and not used as a pretext to try and tear his entire career and legacy down And it shouldn't be ignored or forgotten that he has been pretty much a model pro for almost his entire career up until recently, almost a perfect one who was too good to be true, and hadn't put a foot wrong for so long, and has been treading a path and doing things routinely that no one else is sport is doing and so many are loath to do and still is even now And he shouldn't be held to a standard no other fighter is held to where despite treading the path he has forging a career doing everything the much harder and more noble way barely putting a foot wrong along the way but many act like he's immune from the ageing process and is still in his prime at damn near 40 y/o even though he has clearly been declining for a long time and is well past his best. He's not even allowed to have a poor performance when an old man in boxing years facing giants who dwarf him, let alone a loss whereas the losses and poor performances other greats had in the primes are excused and aren't used to tear down their entire legacies like so many are doing to Usyk now and I've been saying for years this is EXACTLY what was going to happen as soon as he loses even when in his late 30s when long past his prime and he didn't even actually lose He's been facing nothing but giants and much naturally bigger, younger or much younger men, in their backyards or on the road, savage puncher or legit banger B2B to B2B and with the exception of Dubois I his mandatory and Rico in his last fight (who was his only 'soft touch' which turned out to be anything but a soft touch and I told everyone beforehand that I didn't think it was near the soft touch they were so sure it was going to be) all in his mid to late 30s, not doing that occasionally but B2B to B2B which, again, no one else in the sport is doing but receives zero credit for from many. That's my point Loma is a pure legacy fighter and hasn't put a foot wrong at all when it comes to taking on the best despite fighting in a division he was tiny for vs much or way bigger opponents but look at the hate he gets and how his extremely controversial losses all vs much or way bigger fighters in their backyards or in what are essentially their backyards are held against him and used to destroy his entire legacy.
It is a huge ask. After that Rico fight, I was reactionary and said he'd lose to Kabayel. Now, I have had a few days to think about it, and I think Usyk wins a close decision or gets robbed on the cards in Germany. Even if he is on the decline, I think Kabayel won't be able to figure Usyk out. Why won't he receive any credit for it, though? I think he will get all the credit for fighting Kabayel in Germany, as he is pushing 40. He doesn't get any credit for the Rico fight from most people, and rightly so. He should be scalded for that. Fighting Kabayel in Germany is a totally different proposition. I don't see why anyone wouldn't give him maximum credit for that, even people who are hating on him now. The reason he's getting so much current hate is that he fought a non-boxer for the WBC title and nearly made a complete mess of it. But Kabayel is currently the most deserving, so the difference is night and day, and I think he will definitely get credit, win or lose.
Usyk should not be favorite to win against any Top10 heavyweight after the Rico knockout. If he does beat Kabayel, it should be considered an upset.
Kabayel is not a natural 240 lber. Not even close. He is a natural 215-220 lbs at most. He is carrying at least 20 lbs of unnecessary weight on him.
Usyk by stoppage. Kabayel has a rather thin resume (not helped by his inactivity), and has fought nobody even close to Usyk's ability yet.
I’ve always said Kabayel has the style and smarts to give Usyk fits and can’t wait for the fight to happen,I honestly think Kabayel not only beats him but stops him now. Kabayel comes across as such a genuine humble,quietly confident man and is looking forward to the Usyk fight,he is the type of fighter Boxing needs.Usyk has changed,brilliant up to becoming Undisputed and now he’s just like Fury and the rest,money money money ! Parker avoided,Warldey vacated to get out of the fight, (fights Usyk wins as well) Kabayel still waiting after Usyk takes a cross over fight,I’ve said before on here had Fury done this there would be 200 pages slating him,but when it’s Usyk the golden child of the forum it’s 200 pages of excuses for him. Greedy Belly/Greedy Rabbit both the same ! Let’s see if Usyk honours the deal and does fight Kabayel or if it’s another vacated belt ! Should Usyk beat Kabayel then that’s him cleared the old guard out that was infront of him and the best fighter of the chasing pack and then he should 100% retire !
TBH, history would probably remember Usyk beating Wilder better than Kabayel. That would be every major long-reigning champion of the era he'll have defeated if that happens.
On the flipside, he'd be criticized for taking a cherry-pick/avoiding a mandatory. I think the Kabayel fight has to happen next, and anything else is a bonus.
Maybe you're right. I saw most of the critizism from my own perspective which i see as justified, as i mentioned, but you can never be sure if the critizism is just meant to detract from someones whole career. I spoke of part 1 and 2 and that is how i think about it. I Just hate what usyk / his team is leaning into now with their 'only wants big fights' statements, while holding on to the belts as long as possible. After critizising canelo so much i will not ignore it when usyk takes that path. I am very impressed by one of the greatest careers in boxing ever, but i am first and foremost a fan of boxing, not of usyk or other single individuals. And when the elite become part of what works against fans and good fights and worthy challengers and what is fair and right, and when greed takes over instead of ambition - then i won't back that.
They are honourable. In some ways, not passing on the lineal championship via a defeat is not ideal. My preference is Usyk stops when he knows he can't compete at the level he wants.
Usyk didn't look good , but maybe his Masonic masters scripted the fight as a humiliation ritual & hes still the same as the Dubois version really .. & could therefore still have enough left to beat Kabayel in a legit fight