Dubois defeats Wardley, and the winner is...USYK!

Personally I think Ali's era was not as strong or varied stylistically. I also believe that Usyk's run has been harder to replicate than Tyson's run pre-Douglas in terms of wins.

Is there is a better six fight run in HW history than Usyk's from Joshua 1 to Dubois 2? He fought six 2x+ champs, possibly six hall of fame HW's back to back, in at least half of them as the B-side, and went 6-0. Usyk is likely simply harder to beat than other HW's.

 

I wanted Wardley to win so he could face Usyk. The only fight available for Usyk now is Kabayel (or belly), but I'd rather see Usyk-Wardley. That fight's probably a no-go now, but whatever...

That being said, Usyk-Dubois 2 is the best display of boxing I've ever seen. Usyk was literally baiting Dubois into punch perfect counterpunches and out-jabbing him.

The lateral footwork, feints and boxing skills were just marvelous.

Usyk's ring IQ (and intelligence) is something else...

 

If Usyk didn't play ball with Hearn they'd have vacated a belt. The Joshua fight was also the biggest payday by far barring the Fury fight, and Usyk knows, even if you don't, that two wins over Joshua and Fury count for way more legacy-wise than beating Parker or whoever. Do you live in cloud cuckoo land?

Dubois was his mandatory in fight 1 and had the only other belt in fight 2.

 

The wins, especially the second one, have aged greatly. It was good that he rematched him or people would be like he didn't beat the improved Dubois.

 

He beat Fury nobody else matters

 

I'm sorry, but at no point would I have ever suggested that Hrgovic was owed a title shot. He could have faced Wardley or Kabayel, but instead we get Rico and we're somehow supposed to be happy about it?

As a defending champion, Usyk absolutely has an obligation to take care of his mandatories. Plenty of time for exhibition matches when he retires. My main gripe is that it's stalling the division (he only fights once a year) and I don't think he should get a pass now just because of his prior achievements.

 

Well isn't that the point? He's not fighting anyone else, just the same few guys and a kickboxer. He also gets a year to prepare for each opponent.

I hope Rico pulls it off tbh.

 

Except Dubios hasn't really improved since their first fight has he? He got stopped in half the time.

He's big, strong and throws 1-2 with the odd foul when the distance is closed. The only thing missing was a nut shot, so I guess we could call that an improvement.

 

Usyk could have fought Wardley instead of Rico though, and taken that glory and belt all for himself.

 

To be honest, I’m not sure where you’re getting that information. As a Ukrainian, I primarily follow Ukrainian-language resources, and according to them, Usyk’s latest update regarding his retirement came from an interview with the Daily Mail Boxing YouTube channel in April:

'Three days ago, I was thinking about this date: what I will say, how I will say it. Listen, it is close. Right now, I am enjoying what I am doing.'

A bit earlier, Usyk answered the same question during the Inside The Ring podcast in March:

'I will have three more fights. Listen, Rico is first, second it’s who wins between Wardley or Dubois and then my third fight is my friend Greedy Belly, Tyson Fury.'

Aside from that, I haven’t seen any other information coming directly from him (I’m not counting statements from Krassyuk, Turki, Lapin, etc.). If you have more recent info with a direct quote from Usyk regarding his retirement or his future career path, please share it with me.

 

Changes his mind like the weather. We mocked Fury for it, yet somehow excuse Usyk for it.

 

Yeah, it's absolutely laughable for anyone to suggest that Usyk shouldn't have rematched Dubois.

Frank Warren marshaled the entire British boxing media in a crusade against Usyk. Called him a liar, a cheat, and a fake Christian. Told the world that Dubois had been robbed. Then he had Diglett jumping in the ring and interrupting Usyk's interview post Fury 2 to yet again claim he was robbed and that Usyk had to fight him.

So what would have happened if Usyk said, nah? People like Kiwi would have been slagging him off for not fighting Dubois. You'd have had a gang of people claiming Dubois was the true champ, that he actually had been robbed, and that Usyk was running scared. Stupid? Absolutely. But it would have been a thing. Usyk had no choice. He had to put that nonsense to bed. Which he did in spectacular fashion. And it looks 1000x better after last night where Dubois smashed a guy who smashed Kiwi's drug addled compatriot. Diglett is actually better than pretty much the entire division and Usyk is miles better than him. Just shows how far out in front Usyk truly is.