Yes, Rico was better than expected. But Usyk, IMO, has been slowing down. It's my feeling that he should have retired after Fury 2, because the risk -reward ratio from what you've already built starts to rapidly decline. That was the apex for him. Now he finds himself in a Lennox Lewis type situation (vs Vitali), or Roy Jones vs Tarver where he is seen, by many, as needing to carry on to erase the sour taste. What do you think he should do now, and why? Personally, I am always in favour of fighters getting out (when they are clearly declining) and taking the flak rather than getting trapped in some spiralling loop. I always thought Lewis did the smart thing and recognised the warning signs. So, yes, for me, retire now. I do think this transgression will eventually be forgotten and\or overlooked.
Pragmatically he should given his declining physicality. Keep his undefeated record. Personally though I want to see him against Kabayel given how long Agit has had to wait for his shot.
We need another fight either together or separately for both of them to determine what theories were correct from observation.
No he shouldnt! I think the story with his daughter in the Ukraine is true: This content is protected He was simply not there. Who can fight when his child is in such a situation thousands miles away? The news report all over the world showed Russia s attacks on the Ukraine were very much in the past days, and last night again. Usyk s story matches.
He can do as he likes, and if he fights on I will enjoy it, but if he loses, I am not going to cry about it. His daughter may have been in a bomb shelter, but this was a warning of sorts.
Tough call to make because I suspect Usyk still has far more left than he showed us yesterday. He was too heavy, in my opinion, whether he has been trying to bulk up for whatever reason, or whether he didn't take the fight serious enough. Despite getting the win, labouring to a questionable stoppage has certainly not done him any favours and might well affect his historical standing in a similar vein as Ngannou and Fury. Being down on most spectator cards against a kickboxer not known for his hands even within his own sport is a really bad look and definitely doesn't reflect well on the so called GOAT heavyweight. I like Usyk, I don't think he's the GOAT, but I like him. I think he knows he is better than he showed yesterday and has more left in the tank than many fans believe after that performance and could absolutely still easily beat most opponents , but why run the risk of losing to someone far inferior to him? He has nothing left to prove in this sport, he's effectively completed it. Then again, would you want to retire on such an embarrassing performance? Embarrassing may be a harsh word, but it's only applicable because of the talent we all know Usyk has, and because it was against a kickboxer. I saw it posted somewhere on here earlier that yesterday showed effectively that Soviet schooled boxers struggle with pressure fighters that close the distance and force the fight up close. Id like to see a Kabayel fight not only because I think Kabayel deserves a shot, but also because I think it gives Usyk the opportunity to redeem his perception after last night and to finish his time in this glorious sport with no remaining questions
I can see why something that rough like the unpredictable consequences of conflict on distant family would have influence on him taking part in such a brutal sport but he knows what he is in for in the ring. Fury was badly affected in the lead up to Wilder 3 when his daughter was having trouble in the hospital and in an Usyk fight when his wife unfortunately lost a kid. We should take it into account as we should with any physical discomforts. Verhoeven couldve had personal **** going on we don't know. No random all consuming conspiracies like Wilder and it's all noted.
I,d say no. The kickboxer was on something. He was actually hopeless at boxing but if you have unatural strength stamina and power advantage with weight/height/length advantages to boot it nuetralizes even the best of boxers. Usyk will tire the best of them out. It almost backfired because that fella last night was on something. No 18.5 stone man can bounce about like that for 11 rounds and not tire out. Without that uppercut he could have fought another ten rounds by the looks of it. Usyk couldnt get his regular game going because the big mans right hand was a fight ender.
Let’s get real and say Usyk is on more than bread and water. This is a terrible excuse to be bullied by a non boxer
One of them was more enhanced than the other last night thats a certainty. Usyk was tiring like a 39 year old should. The kickboxer wasnt. 18.5 stone bounced around all night and never tired. His punches also never slowed up. Even tho usyk tires out every fighter hes ever fought. Apart from a kickboxer thats never had an actual boxing fight. Who fights in a manner that tires you out. Not buying it. You dont switch sports at 37 under the tution of peter fury and make up the short fall in boxing experience....added to that the incredible well thought out regime usyk has with a bit of peter fury hard work running up the hill.