thats fair, I always thought he had decent fundamentals. It’s not a Wilder situation where they just aint there. But you make some good points
Good point that. Theres no one at heavy with the boxing skills and mobility of Usyk. Not even Fury, in my opinion
I'd be excited for him if he ever looked likely to step back in the ring, but he's been out of action for a while now, even before lockdown. He also looks like someone who doesn't take care of his body between fights, which is never an encouraging sign, especially if you're planning to move up to heavyweight. As of right now I'm not actively following him, since the signs aren't encouraging. I get the strong feeling Usyk broke him mentally and he's not going to be anywhere near the same fighter as he was a few years ago.
Murat is very young, he can take 2-3 years out to build up some muscle mass and move up, that's what I presume he is doing and the reason for his inacitvity.
I've been reading for YEARS now about how Usyk and Gassiev were going to TAKE OVER the heavyweight division and we had all better WATCH OUT. In the last two years, since they met in the WBSS final, Usyk and Gassiev have together fought ONE heavyweight fight (in two years). Gassiev hasn't fought any at all. Usyk fought Chazz Witherspoon. In TWO YEARS. One heavyweight fight. Against Chazz Witherspoon. Between the two of them. To conquer heavyweights, you actually have to fight them. And I think this "conquest" shape has sailed.
Usyk will go the David Haye route of winning a paper title at heavyweight in my opinion. Alot of hype alot of bluster. Definitely isn't the saviour people are making out to be.
Assuming he's recovered fully from the injuries and they're not going to be a recurring problem, and he's still only young (26) and he didn't even take up the sport until he was 15, he should be fine. He's got good fundamentals, hits ridiculously hard - and numerous sources have confirmed that's he's bashed up various huge world rated HWs in the gym or said he's hit them harder than anyone (and HWs who've shared a ring with the best at HW are saying this not just CWs), and he's not slow either. He just needs to have a couple of warm up fights against lower level opposition to get back into his groove and see how his body holds and not rush into something too risky too soon.
Maybe he needs a easy tune up fight against someone like Parker before he mixes it up with the top guys.
He's been building up mass alright, but I'm not sure if it's muscle. I don't like the signs here. Either Gassiev's injuries are worse than we thought or he's lost his passion for fighting. Once fighters take massive breaks off like this they rarely get back to their best.
Because he hasnt fought in over 2 years after he lost to usyk and he's young there's no excuse for it.
