Inoue next fight is Junto. Usyks next fight is Wilder

It is a big deal. You can do the math for yourself on what the percentage difference it. Or many you can't. That is probably the problem.

 

I don't think Usyk is overrated. The guy is a bonafide all time great.

That being said, athletes across many sports are able to perform at an older age now than ever before. Look at Tom Brady, Lebron James, Novak Djokovic etc. Trainers have much better understanding of injury management and when to rest and when to fight.

Holmes defended his title 20 times in 7 years. When you are defending your title 3 times a year, even if it is vs average opposition, there is going to be a lot of wear and tear on the body. Yes, Usyk had tons of amateur fights which do cause wear and tear. But i do think defending your title constantly at the pro level is going to cause more wear and tear.

I actually think someone like Holmes would likely be able to fight better at an older age now. I suspect he wouldn't be fighting 3 times a year as champ but rather once or twice.

 

Usyk beating much bigger fighters is impressive. But there is something called the law of diminishing returns. It is 10 times harder for Innoue to overcome the size difference vs someone like Benavidez than it is for Usyk to overcome size difference vs Fury.

I don't think we can seriously expect a 122-126 lb dude to beat 170-180 lb dudes. But once both men are over 200 lbs, or somewhere close to that, it is possible to overcome such differences.

Joe Louis at 207 lbs ko's 242 lb Budy Baer. Jack Dempsey at 187 lbs ko'd 245 lb Jess Willard. No one would seriously expect Alexis Arguello to ko Bob Foster.

I actually rank Usyk higher than Innoue p4p as i do think he has a stronger resume overall. But i don't think its possible for Innoue to overcome 50 lb differences. A 120-130 lb body simply can't generate enough force to hurt a good fighter 50 lbs bigger. But a 200 + lb body can generate sufficient force to hurt much bigger fighters.

 

I am not in any way disrespecting Inoue's accomplishment.

If Usyk weighs 220 and Fury weighs 270, then that is about between a fifth and sixth more body weight? (math was never my strong suit).

You agreed it is impressive, so, not argument from me.

 

Holmes was world class in early 40s if he arised the previous era before now like Klitschko he'd have broken Foremans record beating joshua or Parker or something

 

I think Usyk remains the number 1 pfp, but he doesn't do himself any favours by only fighting once a year with his next opponent being a well past it Wilder.

 

Oh yes. I like that too. 210 is big enough for any man.

 

Wilder is taller, longer, AND heavier

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Usyk fighting Wilder has to be some sort of humiliation ritual because its makes no sense at all.. Wilder lost X3 to the fella Usyk beat twice.. he hasn't had a semi decent win since 2019.. an old Ortiz.. hes coming off two embarrassingly one sided losses (i don't even count the cringe win over that 38 year old scrub he just beat) to Parker & Zhang.. Wilder is old & hes shot.. ridiculously shot in fact.. there is no need or basis for this fight at all. Fabio Wardley should be the natural next opponent.. or just retire man.. why we gotta stomach this ****..

 

Deontay Wilder 2026 would be the among the very worst choice challengers for unified heavyweight titles in history.