Apart From A Few Exceptions No Heavies Pre 1960 Beat Todays Men

Was he really smaller though, height wise yes, but for me he was the bigger man. Let's not forget, Usyk had a training plan to put on weight whereas like other HW's, Baer almost certainly cut weight for a fight.

 

But at what age did they both turn pro though? And Usyk almost certainly trained up to for his first bout at HW, obviously he didn't go to the extremes of Evander Holyfield, employing one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, but bulking up is bulking up.

Usyk is clearly levels above Baer skill wise, but I could envisage him knocking over some of the bigger HW's of today.

 

Fair, but even at CW I imagine Usyk did a lot of muscle building exercise and weights, for me Baer had the bigger frame and was naturally the bigger man.

But let's disagree, there's not a substantial difference in size either way.

 

Not to be pedantic but I think Usyk is actually closer to the 6’2” mark.

In the later stages of his career, 30/31 yo Baer was weighing 220 lbs or so at times, topping out at 223 lbs against 6’3”, 207 lbs Pat Comiskey who he KO’d inside of the first round.

During his CW days I believe Usyk’s highest fight night, in ring weight was about 214 lbs.

Already aged 32 yo and no longer a weight inhibited cruiser, Olek in fact weighed 215 lbs for his first fight at HW against 6’4” 242 lbs Chazz Witherspoon who he stopped in round 7.

Since then, Olek added more weight incrementally and settled at 221 lbs or so for a time - his approx.weight for both AJ fights I think.

Usyk weighed 223 1/2 lbs when he basically had near 40 lbs heavier Fury out in round 9 of their first fight.

Sorry, I wrote more but it just disappeared and I couldn’t be bothered retyping atm. Arrgghhh!

 

We are in whale mating season after all. If Fury and Wach sired a kid between them, can you imagine what it might look like?

 

Two good points.

 

Agree.

 

Jack Johnson is Jack Johnson because he was much taller, larger and stronger than the fighters of his era. That and he was straight up just a grappler in a time when the gloves allowed for extremely heavy grappling.

Jack Johnson in the 21st century would basically be a shorter albeit physically stronger and better stamina'd John Ruiz. I really don't see him causing anyone trouble / being a contender. Even with PED's his style doesn't translate well at all and he's not talented enough of an athlete to transcend eras. It's not like he's a heavyweight with P4P skills that can be carried up a weight class, he was very much the opposite.

Like Wlad, who looked absolutely AWFUL the literal instant he fought an opponent without a height, reach and strength advantage. It'd be like that x1000 for Johnson imo.

 

The rule might very loosely hold true, but there are more exceptions than you think, and they are not as great as you think they need to be.

I would give Jack Sharkey a good chance against todays giants for example.

The Usky is a bit of a wild card, because while he is clearly teh best, he is not all that big.

There might be some smaller faster fighter who would have a chance against Usyk, but who Fury woudl just be too big for.