How many cruiserweights could contend at HW?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by andrewa1, Jan 3, 2017.


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  1. andrewa1

    andrewa1 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    How many current cruiserweights could establish themselves as a top ten heavyweight if they moved up?

    Haye and Adamek were the last two to clearly do it, and that was over 7 years ago at this point, though Cunningham came close since then and Huck had that competitive fight with Povetkin.

    The money is much better at HW, from all I hear, so you would think they'd be more likely to try their luck if they thought they had much chance.

    Personally, I think Breidis, Glowacki and Usyk would have decent chances at making the top ten, but don't see them actually getting a belt except for a Roy Jones or Charles Martin type situation.
     
    andrewa1, Jan 3, 2017
    andrewa1, Jan 3, 2017
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  2. andrewa1

    andrewa1 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    So everyone agrees AJ, Wlad, Wilder and Parker would own Usyk? Cool.
     
    andrewa1, Jan 3, 2017
    andrewa1, Jan 3, 2017
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  3. SmackDaBum

    SmackDaBum TKO7 banned Full Member

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    I can se Usyk getting beaten by Joshua or Wlad (10/90)because of size(talent). The size differences would be too big to overcome for Usyk. But I can see Parker beating Joshua(40/60) And THEN Usyk could possibly beat Parker (40/60) due to a smaller size differential. The HW's progress in waves. Sometimes a smaller man(but not too small) overcome the size differences- but in the long run the division licks it wounds and grow even bigger and stronger again.
     
    SmackDaBum, Jan 3, 2017
    SmackDaBum, Jan 3, 2017
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  4. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I don't agree at all, Wlad may pose a few stylistic issues for Usyk, but Wilder, AJ and Parker he could beat with relative ease. Szpilka an awkward 6'3 but chinless southpaw just gave Wilder hell, AJ was KO'd by a smaller southpaw in Nistor (who Usyk beat) and got a gift over Cammerelle a southpaw, and lost to Medzhidov, who Usyk beat, AJ has shown a pattern of looking less than stellar against smaller southpaws.

    Usyk beat Junior Fa with ease, who beat Parker 2 times in the amateurs. Usyk looks better beating up bigger guys than he does smaller ones, he has his way with them usually.

    Briedis has already KO'd Charr quicker and far more impressively than Povetkin.
     
    CST80, Jan 3, 2017
    CST80, Jan 3, 2017
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  5. kostya by ko

    kostya by ko Boxing Addict

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    This pretty much nails it IMO.

    Good thread though.
     
    kostya by ko, Jan 3, 2017
    kostya by ko, Jan 3, 2017
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  6. SmackDaBum

    SmackDaBum TKO7 banned Full Member

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    You would need the David Haye blueprint.

    Small but not tiny (by modern hw standard)

    Fast. Agile. Stamina. POWER (so the modern hws atleast giving you some respect - thus space to operate)
     
    SmackDaBum, Jan 3, 2017
    SmackDaBum, Jan 3, 2017
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  7. OvidsExile

    OvidsExile At a minimum, a huckleberry over your persimmon. Full Member

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    Pretty much every top ten cruiser could have a decent career at heavyweight. They are mostly 6'4-6'2' and would weigh in between 220-210 if they stopped cutting weight. Generally speaking, they are faster and more skilled than most of the heavyweights who wouldn't have much advantage against them in terms of height or reach. Only the super heavies like Klitschko, Joshua, Wilder, Fury, Parker, and Ortiz would probably be too much for them and that would probably keep them from getting a belt and earning.
     
    OvidsExile, Jan 4, 2017
    OvidsExile, Jan 4, 2017
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  8. Limerickbox

    Limerickbox Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Usyk and Gassiev. Cant think of anyone else.

    I don't think either of them beat the top few guys at HW though.
     
    Limerickbox, Jan 4, 2017
    Limerickbox, Jan 4, 2017
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  9. Limerickbox

    Limerickbox Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Haye could pull it off because he has elite level power. He managed to come up from CW and still be one of the biggest punching HWs
     
    Limerickbox, Jan 4, 2017
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  10. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    Usyk
    Briedis
    Gassiev

    Are the only 3 I think could, especially Usyk who I see as a future heavyweight champion.

    TBH I find it a bit puzzling how a lot of people here don't think he will cut it at heavyweight despite his success against much larger opposition in the amateurs.
     
    Odins beard, Jan 4, 2017
    Odins beard, Jan 4, 2017
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  11. KiwiMan

    KiwiMan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Agreed. Breidis already beat a fringe contender (Charr) at HW, so there's no reason to suggest that the top CWs couldn't be successful.
     
    KiwiMan, Jan 4, 2017
    KiwiMan, Jan 4, 2017
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  12. Todd498

    Todd498 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Usyk could beat all the top heavyweights but I think Wladimir has the best chance at beating him. He still has the best jab, left hook and 1-2 in the division and probably still hits the hardest.
     
    Todd498, Jan 4, 2017
    Todd498, Jan 4, 2017
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  13. andrewa1

    andrewa1 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Amateurs different from pros, even the hybrid kind, imo. I only saw one match of his against a SHW, in Joyce. To me, it just looked like a vastly more experienced fighter preying on a less experienced guy with confidence issues, who still got in his licks when he wasn't intimidated. And that was probably his biggest victory over a SHW.

    My biggest problem with Usyk though is he doesn't have the power that I think is necessary to be dominant as a smaller hw. Historically, HW champs have either been larger or more powerful than their peers. The only two great champs I can think of who weren't were Holmes(about average sized for his era) and Holyfield. Holyfield would be the closest parrallel for Usyk. But, Holyfield was roided out of his mind and still ultimately came up short against the top shws.

    So, I think even if Usyk proves to be at the top end of potential, he's still going to come up short at the very top. There's not a good historical parallel and I don't see him blazing a never done before path. Especially when it looks like there are one or more potential atg shws waiting for him. Just my two cents, we'll find out eventually.
     
    andrewa1, Jan 4, 2017
    andrewa1, Jan 4, 2017
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  14. KiwiMan

    KiwiMan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I agree with nearly everything you wrote, good post. If there was an established champ at the top of HW I'd certainly pick him against Usyk, but as of now I'm just not convinced that "there are one or more potential atg shws waiting for him."

    Right now there are questions marks around all the top players in the HW division:
    Fury (will he even come back?)
    Joshua (untested, chin)
    Wilder (chin, technique)
    Povetkin (out for doping)
    Klitschko (very old)
    Ortiz (also very old)
    Haye (when was the last time he was in with a respectable HW?)
    Parker (defence, he's not much bigger than Usyk anyway)
     
    KiwiMan, Jan 4, 2017
    KiwiMan, Jan 4, 2017
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  15. DoubleJab666

    DoubleJab666 Dot, dot, dot... Full Member

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    Wait you're not claiming talent can overcome size disadvantages? I mean, who knew?*

    *Irony alert*

    My only dispute would be AJ. Now I share your reservations about Mr Roboboxer but with Usyk unlikely to be able to really hurt him early (that would take rounds imo) I think Josuha just rushes him and takes him out. Talent vs talent there's no debate Usyk is far superior but I don't think AJ would let the fight last long enough for that to show...
     
    DoubleJab666, Jan 4, 2017
    DoubleJab666, Jan 4, 2017
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