How would Usyk negate the bigger man using the octopus style and being able to get away with it with no warnings from the referee?
Usyk would neutralize Wlad's clinch like he neutralized Fury's clinch. Remember how many times Wilder's head ended up under Fury's armpit (even Fury was penalized with a point deduction), and how many times Usyk's head ended up under Fury's armpit? Only Fury doesn't do it as blatantly Wlad.
Wlad was excellent at maximizing whatever reach advantage he had over smaller guys. Povetkin could hardly get a glove on him. Same thing for Ibragimov & Byrd, both very skilled Heavyweights. Wlad wouldn't have had the same question marks that Fury had about his mental state, lifestyle, conditioning, etc. As good as Usyk is, Wlad would've probably been the absolute wrong guy for him. I like Wlad by UD, probably somewhere around 8-4.
Wlad was excellent, but he was past it in 2013, that's why he stop using his feet so much, and start clinching more and more. Also how many times we need to explain that you can't clinch on moving target back and forth ? All of the guys you mention has garbage footwork, and compare them to Usyk's is an insult. Usyk is in and out constantly with his feet. The moment you try to grab him, he is out of range and will counter you. And this was 37.5 years old Usyk. Imagine what prime Usyk would do to Wlad clinching.
2013 version of Wlad was 37 y.o. and had 63 pro fights, he was definitely past his best though still very good. I think Usyk's footwork and versatility are levels above Povetkin's, so Wlad wouldn't find it as easy to hold as Povetkin
There's also the Southpaw problem with Usyk. Klitschko ate about every left hand Corrie Sanders threw at him. Usyk is actually pretty close in height & reach to Sanders, and has similar speed, though not as powerful. Not sure how much Klitschko learned much from the Sanders experience, or if it would have helped him at all vs. Usyk. I still think Klitschko's jab and right hand down the pipe would have seen him through here though. He still had quick hands, and good accuracy around the time of the Povetkin fight. I get the Usyk argument, but I'd still go Wlad here.
I’d favor prime Usyk here but Wladimir is a LIVE underdog with that ATG power. Wlad could hurt anyone at ANY point in a fight. 60/40 Usyk by UD. Would be some nervous moments for him though. Now 2006-2010 Wlad with Steward… That’s a 50/50 for me.
Klitschko definitely had the weapons, especially with Many Stewards and earlier in his career. That left hook could cause Usyk a lot of problems, and Klitschko can KO you with one shot as well. I think Klitschko prime ended around with the Mariusch Wach fight. Not that Wach was some good operator, but he was undefeated and very big at that time. And Klitschko looked really sharp, and started going down afterwards. His trainer also passed before that fight, so that help his decline as well. But this Usyk is miles behind his prime, so who knows. We can just guess.
Usyk sparred Wlad for his Fury camp in 2015 so, past prime Wlad, but reports were that Usyk was beating him up in sparring or "bossng him" according to Johnny Nelson. In 2015 Usyk was weighing 198-199 for his fights that year. Thats the only concrete evidence we have for how that fight would look prime vs prime. At the very least it says Wlad wouldn't have an easy night out.
Lol Corrie Sanders a a natural heavyweight. Usyk is a natural 200 pound fighter. Second Sanders was far more aggressive in comparison to Usyk.
I gotta favor Wlad. Wlad has a great jab and footwork. Better than Fury in these areas. Lot more power. Wlad is very good at using his reach advantage. Would be a very interesting fight
Sanders is naturally bigger, and definitely hits harder, but... Sanders: Height 6'4" Reach 77" Usyk: Height 6'3" Reach 78" Just saying, Usyk would probably have success getting that southpaw left hand home (ala Sanders). Not saying it would produce the same results as Sanders' did, but Usyk would almost certainly have more success than the others I mentioned (Byrd, Ibragimov, and Povetkin) because of it.
