Who looked worse this year (2026): Usyk, Fury, AJ, or Wilder

Flo_Raiden · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:24 AM

Just based on their last fights this year alone who would you say is the most shot out of the HW bunch in your opinion? We are definitely close to the end of a HW era.

Gareth Priest · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:08 AM

Fury

Reuben Jones · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:12 AM

I'd say from this year, AJ, and that's not just recency bias. His punch resistance is absolutely gone.

You could say Usyk, but I don't know whether that was just an off night against an awkward opponent. And plus, Verhoeven, while not a boxer, is still a combat sport superstar, there's no denying that. Boxing is part of kickboxing, so it didn't surprise me that much that someone of his calibre knew how to box. I just didn't expect him to be THAT good.

Wilder, if anything, looked better than his previous fights. But that might have been to do with an old, career-heaviest Chisora being his opponent. Still nowhere near what he used to be though.

Never saw the Wach fight because it wasn't televised, but I wouldn't read too much into it as Fury could have probably beaten him with one hand behind his back. Easy night's work. I thought Fury looked fine against Makhmudov though.

MarkusFlorez99 · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:22 AM

This era is over

Wizbit1013 · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM

AJ definitely

None looked great though

Mickc · Jul 27, 2026 at 10:57 AM

Father Time has caught up with all four of them and all four clearly show signs of deterioration and tbh they all have more than enough money to live a lifestyle the majority of us on here could only dream of,time for all four to retire and leave it to the next generation coming through.

Redbeard7 · Jul 27, 2026 at 11:19 AM

The best performance was Fury's win over Makhmudov. The next best was Usyk's over Verhoeven. Then Wilder's over Chisora. AJ gets the wooden spoon.

I think Usyk's fight was a bit anomalous though: he took his eye off the ball in a one-off fight against an underrated unknown quantity.

Kiwi Casual · Jul 27, 2026 at 11:39 AM

AJ, followed by Wilder, Fury then Usyk.

Serge · Jul 27, 2026 at 12:20 PM

AJ doesn't look like he's suffered physical decline he's still fast, sharp and powerful as ever. But his punch resistance looks like it's declined

Belly, like Usyk, has physically declined in terms of speed, agility, reflexes and reaction times

The Dosser looked better in his last fight than he has in years. I think a big part of the problem with him was clown Malik Scott trying to transform him into a skilled boxer and boxing in a style he's not used to or is equipped to do or should be trying to

Kiwi Casual · Jul 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Serge said: ↑

AJ doesn't look like he's suffered physical decline he's still fast, sharp and powerful as ever. But his punch resistance looks like it's declined

Belly, like Usyk, has physically declined in terms of speed, agility, reflexes and reaction times

The Dosser looked better in his last fight than he has in years. I think a big part of the problem with him was clown Malik Scott trying to transform him into a skilled boxer and boxing in a style he's not used to or is equipped to do or should be trying to
Click to expand...

For AJ I think it's the effect of changing trainers too much to the point where he just kinda loses cohesion in the ring. Physically he hasn't changed that much and stayed in pristine shape.

I think you're on the money with Wilder. Although interestingly enjoy he seemed to show more variation against Chisora than when he was under Malik Scott. Still has potential for a few more scalps, but that time is running out quickly.

Usyk and Fury are declining because their boxing styles just don't age as well. With Fury, I think teaming up with Sugar Hill has actually regressed him further in terms of skill.

Serge · Jul 27, 2026 at 1:52 PM

Kiwi Casual said: ↑

For AJ I think it's the effect of changing trainers too much to the point where he just kinda loses cohesion in the ring. Physically he hasn't changed that much and stayed in pristine shape.

I think you're on the money with Wilder. Although interestingly enjoy he seemed to show more variation against Chisora than when he was under Malik Scott. Still has potential for a few more scalps, but that time is running out quickly.

Usyk and Fury are declining because their boxing styles just don't age as well. With Fury, I think teaming up with Sugar Hill has actually regressed him further in terms of skill.
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Yeah, I don't like that either. I hate the fact Usyk has done that himself so much

I think the Scott redesign The Dosser influence was still affecting The Dosser even after they parted ways. Trying to redesign him and transform him into a skilled boxer with good fundamentals was never going to work especially at his age

Yes, I think the same has happened with Usyk too working with so many different trainers. He should've stuck with Papachenko his entire career or at least Bashir if not and parting ways with his longtime HW trainer for that little gimp he's working with now is perplexing

Philosopher · Jul 27, 2026 at 1:54 PM

I think on a 'how far have they (potentially) fallen' basis, its Usyk. Fury was just Fury, AJ was a caricature AJ and Wilder's stock has risen. If anything I'd say Usyk, Fury have lost the most and Wilder and AJ are tying as 'least worst'....

Flo_Raiden · Jul 27, 2026 at 2:08 PM

Such a shame that years prior we still have yet to see Usyk against Wilder, Wilder against AJ, Fury against AJ, or AJ against Wilder while they were all going hot. Could have been like the HW version of the Fab Four in some ways.

Serge · Jul 27, 2026 at 2:12 PM

Usyk has declined an awful lot in terms of speed, reflexes, fluidity, agility, reaction times and sharpness and it's been masked by him having such a good chin, still winning and still being a step faster than these giants whereas in his prime he was much faster than them. Fighters with lesser chins his age would've come unstuck and got knocked out by shots that just bounce off his chin. It's not just his chin it's his whole noggin because regardless if he gets caught on the chin or temple he doesn't go down or even wobble. We've literally never seen him close to going down or on wobbly legs and he has fought a murderer's row of savage punchers and legit bangers amateur and pro.

PusherII · Jul 27, 2026 at 2:13 PM

AJ. He’s finished.

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Who looked worse this year (2026): Usyk, Fury, AJ, or Wilder

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