Thoughts on this one? We know the Ukrainian is a good boxer, a solid enough chin. Foreman does what he does, which is pretty effective most of the time, so is he as effective here?
Usyk is a very much a live dog in this one. First career Foreman was still a young man who first put his gloves at the age of 18. The last formidable southpaw he faced was likely the great Lucjan Trela from his New Mexico Olympic Games. Meanwhile this virtuoso southpaw is a master at boxing in a tight circle against a puncher; also has formidable defense and genius fighting IQ. Some questions are left unanswared regarding Foreman's performance against slicksters: yes, there was Zaire and San Jose, but in both he was fighting in a sauna with clock ticking each round. It's also worth noting that as he aged Ali became a different kind of defensive wizard, perfecting the miniscule movement aimed at dispelling the force behind the punch, and using extended guarding techniques to control punching output. His unreal chin and grit also aided him against monstrous punchers. Usyk in contrast often resembles an olympic style fighter ascended. All that aside, one thing is certain, being a defensive fighter gives you a better chance against George than any other approach, but cast-iron body is in demand as well, since one punch can turn it all around (Young admitted to being out on his feet aftet the left hook in the second half of the fight.) Things that might prove problematic for Usyk against George is his body punching, ring generalship, and long guard hand fighting. Foreman understood ring geometry and commanding punch selection like few other heavyweights in the boxing history, and he did not discriminate against punching to the body if he could. The sign of Jose Roman twisting in pain as George lands a left hook lives rent free in my mind. Its also worth noting that Foreman was willing to engage in an all-out war.
Foreman had hassles against the really smooth boxers he fought. He liked his man to stand in front of him and exchange. Usyk has footwork the likes of which the 70's guys never really saw, especially in terms of turning his man at close quarters. Now, granted Foreman was a hellacious hitter and extremely dangerous early on, so of course he might do so well that the contest is stopped. But I rather fancy that Usyk (who is basically the same size as 'big' George) weathers the early storm and turns up the heat in the second half to snag a points win.
I would pick Usyk, and make him a favourite. He is faster, hard to pin down, hard to hurt, and there is no meaingful size difference. UD12 Usyk most of the time.
Usyk would have to last past 3 rounds. Being that he's not exactly a natural heavyweight, and Foreman in 73 was one of the greatest h2h......
Foreman is better at mid range and often shoved opponents away if they got too close, but against a quick southpaw it would actually be better for him to make it a rough close range battle. The difference in stances would become irrelevant and he could use his superior strength and brutal body shots to even the odds. If Usyk decides to back off and use his feet then he will give Foreman nightmares. The southpaw jab will be harder for Foreman to parry and swat away, and the quick left straight down the middle might land with frequency (Ali had success with the straight right through the open mummy guard). Gun to my head, I'm guessing Usyk takes a close decision if he stays off the ropes and fights smart, which he always does. Usyk could borrow tactics from guys like Peralta to spoil and frustrate the big guy, and he has proven to have a decent chin after surviving blows from Chisora, Huck, Joshua for 24 rounds, etc. I suspect Usyk is the type of guy that you can't take out with 1 big blow, you will probably need to break him down or land multiple blows in a combination.
Depending on which fights you take, Usyk is BIGGER than Foreman https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Anthony_Joshua_vs._Oleksandr_Usyk https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Frazier_vs._George_Foreman_(1st_meeting) both 6'3, Usyk 221lb vs Foreman 218lb
They are the same size. Usyk was "making weight" in the modern era to get down to 200lbs. His natural weight is 210. He's gained a little to be a bigger HW, but it absolutely hasn't slowed him down past a certain point. Foreman is not bigger than Usyk. But he does have a serious style advantage. The guys who punished Foreman were the quick-handed boxers with a great judge of counterpunching and range. Usyk is one of the best of these, that i've ever seen, at that size.
Usyk UD. I think Usyk can repeat what Jimmy Young did, just don't be scared for Usyk. Usyk is an ATG southpaw, and the 70s Foreman wouldn't have a weight advantage (though he would in power). Usyk all night without rope-a-dope.
Usyk W via UD. He suffers an early scare & maybe a KD, but adjusts to Foreman's onslaught with precision, timing and angles to neutralise, befuddle & frustrate Foreman into making mistakes and getting outboxed for the majority of the bout.
The Usyk that fought Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora gets destroyed by Foreman imho. From the Joshua fights, Big George has a much harder time but I think still stops him late. When Usyk’s career is done and over with, I will reassess this hypothetical match.