Rewatched Usyk vs Rico

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by ellerbe, May 24, 2026.


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  1. chaunceygardina

    chaunceygardina Member Full Member

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    We've never seen Usyk gas and in a daze like he was, have we? This was totally new for him.
     
    chaunceygardina, May 24, 2026
    chaunceygardina, May 24, 2026
    #16
  2. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I don't think he was taking it easy on Rico he's just old, has declined an awful lot from the prime version and even from the past prime version of recent years, his reaction times and reflexes are a lot slower now and he has become much easier to hit and his own shots are slower and easier to read and see coming.

    Rico is very fast for his size but his single shots were just as fast as Usyk's if not faster which is insane because prime Usyk was blazing fast and super agile and fluid but now he's much stiffer and slower and unable to evade shots he would've with ease in his prime.

    How many people argue his chin whilst good can't be iron because we rarely see him get caught clean? Well it is iron but they're also right about him being a defensive master but now they want to act like him getting hit more and not being able to evade the shots of a giant has nothing to do with age, his very glaring decline in speed related departments, and coming in at a career highest weight

    He's been defying Father Time for a long time and winning despite having slowed down and declined a lot but he's still human and it's bizarre how he's held to this impossible standard that no other fighter in history is held to and how these people can rationalize and justify to themselves doing so. There's clearly some nasty agendas at work but I honestly think a lot of them aren't even aware of what they're doing and how conditioned they are and how blinded they are by their biases and preconceptions

    This **** actually needs to be studied because it's bordering on some kind of mental illness :lol:
     
    Serge, May 24, 2026
    Serge, May 24, 2026
    #17
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  3. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Am I also gaslighting you to believe that Rico almost got a minute rest after the KD? Or was that reality and one of the strangest things you’ve seen live?
     
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    #18
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  4. tarrant45

    tarrant45 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    You realize that not even the corrupt judges had Usyk ahead? Doesn't that make you question your judgement a bit? Guess what. It should.

    Your post was just a personal narrative about Usyk not trying and referencing Mcgregor and Floyd. That is not how you score fights. You should just be focusing on clean effective punches and with that metric Rico was clearly ahead, which is why 95% of the people who watched the fight think he was ahead.
     
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    #19
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  5. FreddieGibbs

    FreddieGibbs Active Member Full Member

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    Been about a year since I last got on here. This was definitely a really bad one for Usyk, like unsalvageable career optics wise, but I agree a lot of the scoring thrown around was hyperbolic in Ricos favour.
     
    FreddieGibbs, May 24, 2026
    FreddieGibbs, May 24, 2026
    #20
  6. bjl12

    bjl12 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Saw the same thing. No clue what everyone is whining about
     
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    #21
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  7. bjl12

    bjl12 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Slapping, clinching, rabbit punching, and wrestling dont move the needle for me, sry
     
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    #22
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  8. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    First time we agree BJ boy
     
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    #23
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  9. bjl12

    bjl12 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Usyk wasnt off at all. Rico was getting credit for jabbing, clinching, holding, hitting behind the back. I mean, if he was a boxer ppl would say he put up a good fight but is limited. Since hes a kickboxer now hes the GOAT.

    /thread

    @ellerbe
     
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    bjl12, May 24, 2026
    #24
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  10. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Agreed. Props to Rico because I think casuals can get tricked by this style but hardcores should see straight through it.
     
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    ellerbe, May 24, 2026
    #25
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  11. tarrant45

    tarrant45 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Rico was also landing clean effective punches as well as controlling Usyk which is also a scoring factor. You can't score fights. Do you really think you saw something that 98% of boxing fans and experts missed?
     
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    #26
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  12. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Rico landed some massive shots but when he bulled Usyk to the ropes he was generally landing pity pats and getting away with a lot of dirty stuff so he's being given far too much credit for that
     
    Serge, May 24, 2026
    Serge, May 24, 2026
    #27
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  13. tarrant45

    tarrant45 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Almost all the hardcores had Rico ahead. Go find a single analyst on youtube who had Usyk ahead I dare you. This forum is full of hardcores and same thing.

    is landing pitty pats better than landing nothing? Or they don't count at all?
     
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    tarrant45, May 24, 2026
    #28
  14. Cyrion

    Cyrion Member Full Member

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    Explain to me where Usyk gassed or was in a daze in this fight?

    Usyk kinda did his typical thing, didn't he? Started slow, maybe behind a bit going into the championship rounds, and then stepped on the gas late to win the fight. If this was anyone other than Rico the Kickboxer it would just be considered a normal Usyk win.

    Rico got wobbled in the 4th, the 10th, and then got wrecked in the 11th. Usyk was never in any trouble at any point of the fight. Rico's spoilery, awkward, rough housing style did him a lot of favors. Wasn't enough though.
     
    Cyrion, May 24, 2026
    Cyrion, May 24, 2026
    #29
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  15. chaunceygardina

    chaunceygardina Member Full Member

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    Sep 3, 2023
    Dunno, the breathing seemed a little heavier than usual, and the eyes weren't as focused. Maybe I'm reading too much
     
    chaunceygardina, May 24, 2026
    chaunceygardina, May 24, 2026
    #30
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