Highly doubt Usyk is getting a decision. Any early rounds he takes to get going are going to get scored to AJ in most probability, unless AJ doesn't throw a single punch. That'll make it easy enough for judges to give AJ enough rounds if required. I don't think AJ was particularly great against Pulev but he does always have that little streak, where he can just turn the intensity up to 11 for a brief spurt and land a combination of heavy shots that hurt or put his opponent down out of no where. Also agree Usyk has lost a step, hopefully turns out to be an interesting fight.
Packing on size will not help Usyk in this fight, he needs to be mobile and elusive, focus on your strengths and your advantages, not your disadvantages. The lighter Usyk is the better he will perform. Anything over 220 is too heavy and will work against him
I don’t think Usyk will be over 220 and I don’t disagree with you. But people also thought that Fury had to be light against Wilder and instead he came in heavy and went for the kill. Usyk will go for the KO against Joshua IMO and that’s where the added size will make a difference.
Routine win for joshua on points for me. Usyks class but hes out of his weight class at heavyweight and his big assets aren,t the things needed to do well up there. His success comes by drowning opponents by getting them working harder than they want to be working. He does that via his high level of skill...drawing opponents to throw and keeping just out of range not to take anything too damaging while getting his own shots off. He done it to bellew who was actually doing well on the cards but pretty sure said his gran could have knocked him out due to how tired he was. The problem is you stick 4 or 5 inches reach advantage....big natural weight and height advantage on the opponent you,ll find it,llbe usyk that has too work harder than he wants to be working and instead of being just out of range....he then needs to become in range to try to be effective. Usyk good enough to stay in the fight...just wont be able to work joshua hard enough like what hes done to most of his opponents. Genuinely believe chisora has more chance against joshua. Hes got more of the tools that joshua doesnt like. Had parker hurt within about ten seconds. He throws big...hes landed against every top challenger hes faced in recent years. Hes also strong naturally heavy...and keeps coming forward all night. Thats the type of opponent that will give joshua bigger problems.
Also think ortiz would be a better opponent. People are down on ortiz atm...the problem was they keep sticking him in with the wrong opponent. His styles based on trying to get the opponent to lead off. They stuck him in with scuba steve who ran away all night. Or wilder...who minimised his punch output and moved all night. Ortiz the best counter puncher in the division imo...if you lead off on him he,ll make you pay for it.
Three years ago I’d have agreed with you. Think the Wilder KO has probably put Ortiz well past his prime now. Still think he’d have enough left to sit down someone like Whyte though.
To be fair Hearn said a couple of weeks ago that December might not be an option for the Fury fight and that it might have to be February. So not overly surprised. It's frustrating as hell, sick of all the politics with it all.
Who has Ortiz beaten? Jennings and ancient Tony Thompson (now that was funny)? Ortiz is a good boxer, but he's always been incredibly overrated. I think he was robbed of a chance to capitalise on the inroads he made in the first Wilder bout (re: doctor shennanigans) but he was useless in the second bout despite probably winning every round - maybe he felt like he didn't need to do more. At this stage, Joshua would vulture Ortiz without issue, Usyk is an entirely different matter. He's mobile, skillful and very ambitious. Almost everyone Joshua has fought has been as stiff as plywood.
Usyk isn’t big enough or slick enough at heavy weight. I can’t see him being able to hold centre of the ring for any time at all really. He’s certainly talented enough but he doesn’t look the same fighter since he’s gone up. I don’t think he’s got the legs at this weight to pot shot and box, move and tie Joshua up all night. Joshua is an ok enough boxer to not let Usyk negate his advantages with timing. This will be enough for the natural extra size to help him get the win. I’d like to be proven wrong though. I’d be worried of a premature British stoppage if I was Usyk in this one, especially if there’s no rematch clause. There’s lot on the line with the Fury fight. I’d love to go to this. How many fans do they reckon will be allowed in?
I'm sticking with what I've said previously, this fight doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong the latest announcement makes it look more likely but I'll be amazed if this happens.
