I love Usyk but do we overrate his speed?

The thing is, Usyk is exceptionally quick at his fastest, but he cannot keep up that pace for 12 rounds.

If anything is over rated it's his gas tank. He'll have 4-6 rounds or so of a fight where he has to fight at a slower pace.

Notice how quick he was the first 4 rounds vs Joshua, but looked more like the Usyk from the Chisora fight in rounds 5-8, then picked up the pace again rounds 9-12?

His speed at max is fantastic, but he that pace cannot be sustained for 12 rounds in Usyk's case.

His gas tank is good, but not amazing.

 

It's not his speed so much as his intangibles like ring IQ and timing. He works an opponent out during the bout and uses that information to pierce the opponent's defences and to read the opponent's offense. Usyk is fast but his speed isn't why he's good, it's merely the cherry on top.

 

Spot on, it's his timing.

 

Usyk's speed is more to do with his feet than hands, though...

 

Yeah, that was the game plan. Start fast and try win the first 4 (would have been unexpected because he usually starts slow and builds into the fight), force AJ to up his pace in the middle rounds to close the points gap while Usyk replenishes his energy by lowering his output, and step up the pace in the last four when AJ can't take those rounds off to recover from his increased output rounds 5-8 because... they're the last four. Walked AJ right into it too...

 

He's obviously fast especially when compared to the lumbering giants of this era. But compared to say Ali, Tyson, Patterson or even Holyfield I say he's slower.

But he's never just been a speedster, his timing, head movement, his ring IQ, the way he cleverly sets up his shots, speed is one of his least impressive attributes but not because he's slow but because everything else is so good.

His footwork for me stands out the most, I think you have to go back some way to see a fighter who moved as well as Usyk at heavyweight.

 

Why only Speed ?

It's combination of speed, footwork, defence, attack, timing and angles.

 

He's a moving target for the entire fight who keeps prodding, probing and attacking or countering at any opportunity presented, his feet however comprise most of his speed rather than his hands which are fast but then again not the fastest because he's not an explosive puncher.

 

Really have to attack Usyk's body to slow him down mentally and physically

He has a quick brain, quick feet and versatile offence. Hit him up the ribs and you'll slow him right down.

In a way it's probably harder for these big guys to find his body. Fury is pretty good at finding it as he can change levels and get on top of you. AJ not so much, but he did land some nice uppercuts to his core.

 

He doesn't throw many combinations but he's definitely faster than anyone in the HW division.
The speed of his single shots is 10x quicker than Sanchez.

 

In literally the first round Usyk landed at least 2 straight lefts on AJ before AJ could even blink

 

Well what do you expect? For him to morph into Aaron Pryor?

Hes a 220 pound man. A person his size cannot go full blast for 12 rounds.