If Usyk turned Pro at heavyweight instead of cruiserweight

Honestly? I think he would have stayed in relative obscurity for years.

People overlook how fortunate Usyk has been in his pro career with the opportunities that have fallen into his lap. How lucky is he that the WBSS was formed? There is no way he would have unified the division so quickly without said tournament.
Granted, he would still have had the WBO title, and would still have become a mandatory at heavyweight, but this is where Turki steps in. Without the Saudi money we likely would never have seen an undisputed fight.

And I bet that had he started at heavyweight, then it would have taken him quite a bit longer to score a title fight than was the case at cruiser.

 

Who did Lewis really beat?

 

Yup, and just hope Parker settles things and gets back in the mix!

 

Holyfield
Tyson
Bruno
McCall
Rahman
Mason
Ruddock
Tua
Grant
Briggs
Morrison
V Klitschko
Botha
Mercer
Akinwande
Tucker
Mavrovic
Golota

Amazing resume

 

so you’re saying beating 37 year old Holyfield an a shot 36 year old Tyson are his top wins?

 

I don't think it would be massively different tbh
Fury beat Wladimir, but then didn't box for a while and didn't seem overly interested in Usyk until he did finally face him
Joshua was very marketable and I think would have got a title shot. Remember it was 3 completely different title fights Joshua had to have, to win the titles Fury didn't defend, so I think Joshua would have won a title

 

I didn't put them in any particular order, but you have to put it in perspective as well
Holyfield was a unified champion when Lewis beat him and I'm sure it would be the top win for any current HW if they beat a 38 year old Usyk

 

I was actually thinking about this not too long ago. I believe he and Wlad would’ve probably been set up for a big showdown around 2018 probably and Usyk would’ve outboxed him. Perfect passing of the torch

Usyk would’ve beat Fury along the way and Joshua. Wlad would’ve most likely passed Louis in consecutive title defenses

 

Wardley is unique but it has nothing to do with his actual style. It’s just how ridiculous his intangibles are.

a big strong athletic guy who can hit? Nothing new. But he seems like the reincarnation of the dude who was standing front and center of an entire army, ready to charge into the enemy line, 3000 years ago. Or like a guy who would have signed up to fight in the colosseum to the death, for fun.

Will he lose? Yeah, it’s going to catch up with him. But he’s such a good story. And a likeable guy. It’s not like he even has the story of being some farm kid or some rough youth — he was some white collar dude working in a cubicle like most of us. And now he’s a world HW champ.

 

I’m not going to say he didn’t beat top contenders but Usyk has more quality wins. You can’t top 2x Fury 2x Joshua and 2x Dubois unless you look at someone like Ali’s resume.

 

Holyfield is rated above Fury.

Holyfield 10 Heavyweight world title wins compared to 5 for Fury.

Vitali is rated above Joshua.

Vitali 15 Heavyweight world wins compared to 9 for Joshua.

What do you mean you can't top Dubois ? He's no better than some of the 90s contenders that Lewis beat.

 

What version of Evander did Lewis beat?

 

What version of Fury did Usyk beat

 

Holyfield was 37

Fury was 36

Hardly a big difference.

Holyfield had beaten the likes of Tyson x2, Moorer.

What was Fury's form coming into the Usyk fight ?

A gift decision vs an MMA fighter and a pointless trilogy vs Chisora.