I wouldn't be suprised if Usyk was at least 235 in the ring. He was thicker everywhere, especially his hips and shoulders. Krassyuk said he "never saw Usyk look heavier" and I agree. I think he cut a bit for the weigh in. Usyk has slower legs and his balance is a bit worse (look at Usyk-Dubois 1 Round 4 2:40, Usyk-Dubois 2 Round 1 1:18, same sequence, many more steps). Usyk took 3 steps to exit and circle in 2023, he took 6 steps in 2025 and crashed into the ring. Might be partially due to his weight and partially due to aging. Usyk has improved technically with every fight. He makes adjustments far far faster, his right hook is now an incredible weapon (doesn't slap with it), his lead hand is more educated, his left hand has improved, and he uses a significantly wider variety of defensive techniques. He has become a far more complete fighter and comes in with a different game plan each match. I've been watching Usyk for the better part of 10 years now. I thought Dubois was better this fight. He had about 3.5 gameplans and Usyk took each one away almost immediately. Usyk made it look effortless and when someone can do that, it means they're really really freakin good. Though he seems to have lost half a step, on balance, I think Usyk understands who he is as a fighter and is better than ever.
He's an outstanding fighter. Frank Warren ''We witnessed one of the true modern greats,”. “He would be a great in any generation.” Ukrainian national boxing team coach Dmytro Sosnovsky ’’He is really a very strong athlete. Born for boxing. Athletes like him are born once every hundred years'’
Usyk came chunky because he doesn't need to be slick for dubious he knew he would find a counter on a tired dubious and chin him. He probably didn't expect it to happen so easily though. He's traded some of his foot speed and stamina for size but it's a free trade up for him giving more advantages than dis. Took him years to build to this size though. If I had to bet I'd say he is on that good beef, people will cry about me saying this...but I think he is. I don't care really. He's been less heavy but looked in worse condition than that fight. That kind of physique heavier but lean isn't magic'd out of thin air and as I mentioned he has been training up to it for many years now.
"Hardly changes anything.." No not at all, I agree. I don't want that to be of any focus. He's been building that body for 6 plus years now and honed all of his skills and physique to compete at the level he is and that's pure hard work. Meanwhile Fury let his physical gifts go down the drain. His elbow issues were unavoidable but still....
As for Usyk’s weight, Jakub Chycki from his team mentioned that he was actually supposed to weigh even more for this fight (about 1.5 kg more, if I remember correctly). That was his weight during training camp, but a few minor issues, along with the fact that Usyk doesn’t like to eat enough to maintain that weight, led to a slight drop. Chycki said that the extra kilograms were pure muscle and should not affect his speed, movement, footwork, or anything like that. According to him, a few kilograms are negligible in the context of a 100 kg frame.
I agree, he is still not clean though. OT: I think Usyk is on that 70s Ali path where he is no longer the athletic phenomenon he once was (still better than other HWs) but is better than ever skill-wise.
