Can you name a top HW in recent memory who didnt possess at least 2 of the following; height, frame and power? Let's say good height at HW is a legit 6'5" or taller. Fury doesnt have power. But hes got a HW frame and height. Wilder doesnt have HW frame. But hes got great height and power. Joshua has all 3 and so hes regarded as the best HW. Wlad had all 3 and reigned for a while. So did Lewis. What scares me about Usyk is he doesn't have power nor HW height. And his frame is big for CW, but not necessarily a full sized natural HW frame. So it will be an uphill battle.
John Ruiz -- though the definition of "top" and how the responder interprets it will dictate the answer.
It's achievable, and if by anyone then by him, but ya it's certainly against the norm. FWIW -- skill and speed are the only two attributes that can cancel out/stand-in-place of power and height/reach. But tgen again, its the only uncapped weight class, so obviously more emphasis is on the specimen of the horse in this class as opposed to a much more favorable skill:talent ratio in all other classes. I think it should highlight a point as to how truly special a fighter one must be if they actually come along and "son" the division without the prequisite physical gifts.
Tua really abused his talents, coming in flat and overweight. Young Tua is a different proposition for Byrd, the one that met Ike had fitness and stamina
Tua was only 28 when he fought Byrd and he was in GREAT shape in that fight. In much, much better shape than he was against Lennox.
What should scare you, going by your definitions of a top heavie, and examples of all the recent top heavies is that to be at the top apparently the one thing you don’t need is a top grade solid chin!
Lol. Yes indeed. I've been saying it all along that these modern day cruiser weights won't be making any waves at heavyweight, because of the huge size disparity between the top guys. People might make the argument with David Haye, who was a huge puncher. But look at who he beat to win his world tite. And just look how formidable the division is, compared to 5 or more years ago. This puny Usyk is out of his depth. And Eddie was right to put him in with Takam for his first fight. He'll soon have second thoughts when he steps up a level. And feels the true power of these huge behemoths. He'll change his mind and go back to cruiserweight with his tale between his legs. They'll just walk through him.
Exactly. He has an excellent upperframe, just those chicken legs means he loses 30lb of mass compared to the rest. His upperbody is comparable to Joshua's.
The Tua of the Ike time frame maybe was a better fighter I feel, but I stand corrected your reply is spot on
Yes it is comparable, i'd say natural frame wise Wilders bigger, Joshua hasn't the same width hes just packed more on imo
Usyk will have to rely on speed of hand and foot of he wishes to defeat the top guys. I think he'll struggle in every fight but win most outside from Joshua a few others possibly. i see him out boxing Parker but having difficulties with Whyte , maybe Joyce who is not the Joyce of 2013...sorry but he's not. Lol I think fast power puncher are going to get him, but we'll see ? Right now though how many fast power puncher are there ? 1.Joshua 2. Wilder ( I think Usyk wins that fight , Wilder would look foolish his whole package would look.like he had two left feet with Usyks movement) 3. Povetkin 4. ??????? Not many guys on his radar . The tricky fights will be the Parker and Whytes. The dangerous ones will be Joyce and Breazeale types , slow but very durable. Usyk is definitely at a uphill battle relying on speed and movement without the 3 things of size power and height. But he can still dominate every fight but more then the others he can't lose focus in there.
Skills, speed and durability count too. Usyk has all three, plus he's a south paw. At 6'3" tall with a 78" reach, he's not too short.