Ali vs Usyk Who Wins

50/50 at their best. Ali would have to use his feet and right hand counters like he did vs Liston and Mildenberger or he's screwed

 

Ali by decision.

 

Ali obviously had some issues with good jabbers and well rounded boxers.

That being said, Usyk has no speed advantage here. Usyk also has no stamina advantage over Ali.

Usyk has rarely dealt with speed. There is no comparison between Breidis, Bellew, Gassiev, Fury etc. and Ali in terms of speed. The only notable guy whom i remember being quick was Michael Hunter

I would favour Ali 60-40 here. Usyk will struggle to cut the ring vs someone who moves quicker than he does. Usyk's body punching wouldn't slow Ali down given he took body shots from much harder better body punchers like Liston, Frazier, Foreman etc.

I think Ali will have a lot of success beating Usyk to the punch and his combination punching is something Usyk has rarely if ever seen. That being said, Usyk's jab, southpaw stance, high stamina etc. will keep the fight extremely competitive.

If they fought 3 times, would it shock me if Usyk won one? Not at all. Styles makes fights and Usyk certainly has a style that would cause Ali problems.

 

Usyk UD the overhyped big mouth.

 

True. And even Hunter wasn't Ali speed wise. Usyk managed to slow Hunter down with body shots. That doesn't work vs Ali.

 

The young Ali that could dance and move like no one else could would be a problem but Usyk is so smart and skilled once Ali had to rest and be flat footed Usyk would be beating him. And let’s remember Cruiserweight? Usyk is 6 3 220+ lbs. It’s a pick ‘em but if forced I’m going to say Usyk by decision.

 

Dropped a video on this recently. Paid content but as in-depth an Ali vs. Usyk video as you’ll find
https://www.patreon.com/posts/136786055/edit

 

We would assume the current Usyk but which Ali?
Is it the lighter but much faster 1967 Ali or 73 or 74 heavier more experienced Ali that avenged Norton and beat Foreman and won back the title.

 

Is it 1967 Ali or the slower but stronger and wiser 73 / 74 Ali?

 

I predict they are both awesome.

 

Muhammad Ali vs. Oleksandr Usyk

What a bonus fight we have here! In one corner you have the Greatest, Muhammad Ali, squaring off against the Cat, Oleksandr Usyk.

Born on opposite sides of the Atlantic on the same day (the 17th of January) forty-five years apart, they are two of the best fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

Not only do they share a birthday, but both are six foot three inches in height, both have a seventy-eight reach and their optimum fighting weight is between 215 and 220 pounds, Usyk being the slightly heavier of the two.

This is a really tricky fight to predict. Even though Usyk has modern-day training and nutrition advantages, he is still slower than Ali both in hand and foot speed.

In terms of stamina, they are about even, with Ali regularly fighting for fifteen rounds and Usyk showing an unreal gas tank, often getting stronger as the fight progresses. Again, endurance and chin are dead even. In terms of heart, again with iron wills to win there’s nothing to separate them.

Neither are known for hitting hard, so it’s reasonable to expect a high output tactical boxing match rather than an all-out slug fest.

Technical skills favour Usyk, however the “mistakes” Ali made – like pulling his head back, crossing his feet or fighting with his hands low – were all tailored to his inhuman reflexes and he turned them into his strengths.

Looking at ring IQ, Ali was a genius in the squared circle, able to come up with winning strategies mid-fight. Whereas Usyk has the preciseness of a surgeon and, having never tasted defeat in the pros and the experience of over three hundred amateur fights, is Ali’s equal.

As you can probably tell, I can’t split them up. Ali had the edge in terms of speed, which could be a factor. Then again, Usyk is a southpaw with fantastic lateral movement, which can be very difficult to read. Furthermore, he is undefeated in the pros (at the time of writing) so no one has figured out the Usyk conundrum.

Ali’s main weakness was the left hook, which Usyk is a master of. Usyk’s biggest weakness is body punching, but Ali always preferred to head hunt. Either way, we are in for a treat.

The build-up and press conferences display both fighter’s personalities to the extreme. On one side you have the serene and respectful Ukrainian who conducts himself with the utmost of class and humbleness contrasting with the rumbustious American constantly taunting and belittling his opponent.

Ali tries every trick in the book to get under his opponent’s skin, even resorting to calling him “buck tooth”, but nothing phases his foe, who approaches each presser in a zen-like manner.

Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, manages to get under Ali’s skin, calling him a draft dodger, while Usyk paused his career to fight alongside his countrymen against Russia.

With the political undertones, the West clashing with East and the difference in personalities, the anticipation for the fight is unprecedented. Commenters are comparing the build-up to the Fight of the Century when Ali and Frazier fought.

With the fighters in the ring, the announcer starts to recite the numerous achievements of each champion. The crowd braces themselves for a long and exhaustive list.

“In the red corner from Louisville, Kentucky, USA, weighing two hundred and fourteen pounds is the first ever three-time world heavyweight champion, the first ever three-time lineal heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medallist: the Greatest, Muhammad Ali!”

The roar of the crowd echoes across the arena. Ali raises his arms, basking in the adulation and absorbing the moment. From the corner of his eye he notices Usyk has not once taken his eyes off him, like a gunslinger accepting his fate that it’s either him or the man he’s about to face.

The MC swiftly moves on: “In the blue corner from Ukraine, weighing two hundred and twenty-two pounds, the undisputed cruiserweight world champion, the unified heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medallist: the Cat, Oleksandr Usyk!”

The crowd cheers enthusiastically, but not as fervently as they did for Ali. Clearly the away fighter isn’t as popular as the home-grown and magnetic Ali.