Bellew believes Usyk would’ve beaten Tyson

sure but that had a lot to do with Holyfield being regarded as washed up after the Bowe tko. Which obviously he wasn't. Glad you won your bet though.

 

Of course mate, I could be wrong and you could be right, it's all subjective. All good, my man .

 

Yeah, people wrote Holyfield off but I was sure he was gonna win and I ranted about it for months before and up to the fight.

 

Wlad didn't have a 2 year break. He was training for the rematch with Fury, then for the rescheduled rematch and then for the fight with AJ. He was out of the ring for 17 months. Holmes was sitting on the couch getting fat.

 

Of course, but Holmes aged the best of all the champions. After Tyson, he won another 20 years and remained competitive for almost another 10 years!

 

I don't think hat Usyk could create a gameplan that would enable him to use huge uppercuts to stop Tyson.

The uppercut is a highly risky punch. This is why Usyk does not use it often. Chisora was wide open for uppercuts. I recently rewatched the fight. Usyk barely threw any uppercuts until late in the fight and even the few ones he threw, were very tame and lacked any power. Its clear he does not like to throw big uppercuts. Same thing with his fights with Beterbiev.

The idea that Usyk could magically start firing full power uppercuts vs a rampaging Tyson who is way quicker than the likes of Chisora, Breidis, Beterbiev etc, especially early in the fight is not realistic. A guy who rarely throws uppercuts, especially early, isn't going to magically start firing huge uppercuts early vs a guy who is quicker than anything he has faced.

Usyk is great but we can't give him attributes he doesn't have. There is no universe where he is going to throw Douglas like uppercuts to stop Tyson in his tracks. And if he tries, he will leave himself open for overhand right hands. You can't throw such a risky punch vs a much quicker opponent than anything you have faced when its not something you like doing vs much slower easy to hit targets.

Douglas was a natural at throwing the uppercut. Usyk isn't and he wouldn't risk it vs a rampaging lightning fast Tyson.

I don't count Usyk out. If he can survive the first 6 rounds without taking major damage, he could win a decision. I favour Mike but i don't count Usyk out.