Ingemar Johansson vs Oleksandr Usyk.

I never implied that Ingo was a frail or tiny guy. I simply stated a fact that Uysk is bigger. He is taller, has a longer reach and is heavier. Remember, Uysk cut weight for years to make the 200 pound Cruiserweight limit. He is only a smaller heavyweight compared to this generation of men that are routinely 240 pounds or more and 6'5 plus. I am a big fan of Ingo's and think he is underated for what he did in his era but the only advantages I see him having is strength and punching power with the right hand. My money would be on Uysk taking the right hand away from him. By the way, how many southpaws did Ingo fight? I know the answer, do you? As a former fighter, I will tell you that **** matters big time.

 

I think it's pretty even, I loved how aggressive he was vs Huck.

 

That’s a good point. We can only surmise how Ingo reacts to a southpaw. My hunch is Ingo was intelligent and crafty though. And as you know, a lead right can be a good weapon against a southpaw. Not that a left hook was something Ingo had.

Yeah, Usyk is definitely taller. But tall opponents were not alien to Ingo. He hit tall heavyweights on the choppers just the same.

well Ingo himself was probably above 200lb too coming down to the 190s as they did then. But I know what you mean. The 200lb limit can theoretically put even a Larry Holmes sized heavyweight into the cruiser class now. Yet I think Ingo was a Joe Louis sized guy who could have weighed more in a different time.

As for these 6’5” heavyweights now, yes they are about. Fury and Wilder are legitimately that tall. But a lot of them are barely more than 6’3” and listing themselves as 6’5”. With few exceptions like Valuev and Carnera, There’s never been a 240 heavyweight that wouldn’t be 224 in another era.

I can agree with this. It was literally all he had. And for Ingo it was really only a tiny window where he had that lightning in a bottle that produced just two elite wins. Outside of this, you can say Ingo was merely normal.

But those two wins were absolutely shocking.

All any great fighter could do was match them. You couldn’t do much better than what he did on those two nights. Even if it was just two nights.

 

Huck was great fighter in his prime and he is not old. He is only 3 months older than Briedis.
Of course to beat Huck after he get blowed up by Glowacki and had fight vs prime not WBSS2 version of Briedis was easier.
Glowacki seriously hurt him, then Huck had Briedis prime version in the ring and this guy, despite with lesser amateur boxing exp than majority of top boxer, does beat very hard for his size.
This was Briedis version before he get damaged hands.

Then Huck was more tough material to fight with than after these both fights.

 

Good matchup. I've got Usyk by ko 7.

 

Usyk looks that is out of prime but prime Usyk had fights with not old and hard punching boxers.
Gassiev in WBSS had power like he was at least 220 lbs weight in guy. Also he was young, then not injured and durable as from hell.
Yeah, slower than Usyk or Briedis but he was like from stone.
With out of prime Briedis Dorticos did absolutely nothing and didn't looked that Briedis throwed something more than 90% power punches vs Dorticos.
Dorticos is no joke, despite he does have flaws, stuff he does know well is automated with a glance, dude is durable and with good gas tank, moves around like 200 lber and hit like at least 220 lber. He had destroyed skilled boxer in Tabiti who was legit cotender for IBF World Title and candidate for WBSS final for Ali trophy. Tabiti was legit cotender. Dorticos also destroyed Kudryashow, dude with flaws but very powerful boxer.
With Briedis Dorticos did nothing. Usyk had more fresh not out of prime Briedis in the ring.
Huck: tough fight especially before he had Glowacki and Briedis in the ring.
He too did had power more than just for 200 lbs guy and was very experienced in pro ranks.

 

Yeah but not only.
Usyk had 30 y.o undefeated Glowacki in the ring when he get his first World Title. WBO World Title vs 26-0-0 30 y.o Glowacki.
Of course Usyk's amateur experience and credentials were higher and he was faster and more agile than Glowacki.
Still Glowacki is fighter dangerous till last second in each fight. He is a bit sneaky, might capitalise mistakes and hits hard for his size.
Now ofc he is older and slower than he was vs Usyk.
Briedis, if he had attempted to finish him not to use his better ammy boxing exp and speed& agility advantage, had finished Usyk. Usyk even fall down via slip when they had contact. Briedis also is not stupid, he tailor stuff for each opponent.
Most likely he won because Briedis had gameplan to outbox Usyk and was wrong. If he decided to maul and press Usyk, he didn't lasted till end of fight.

Both of these fights vere very dangerous for Usyk.
Gassiev ofc too was dangerous fight, dude then was not injured and really like made from stone.

 

Usyk would not have beeten Paterson he would have had a big job against Eddie Machen

So I would say Johansson on points or a split /draw in a 2021 British ring

 

I wonder what's more generally found more impressive: Usyk going 22 rounds with Gassiev/Huck and arguably not losing one, or Holyfield going 23 rounds with Ocasaio, DeLeon and the Qawi rematch and arguably not losing one.

 

One people forget is Holmes doing 23 rounds with Shavers and only losing one round. The knockdown makes people think that the Holmes - Shavers fights were close, competitive fights but Shavers only won one round.