Joe Joyce insists he's ready for Oleksandr Usyk eight years on from "naive" defeat

That puny Usyk could barely fend off morbidly obese Chisora. Joyce will be a lot bigger and stronger this time, and the scrawny cruiserweight will probably have to go 10 or 12 rounds with that enormous behemoth. It doesn't look good for him now.

 

Joyce is hard as nails. Underrated because of his style. This is a tough tough matchup for Usyk. A real close fight this.

 

I am starting to believe that now. I used to be a naysayer, but he has impressed me in and out of the ring. I think he's a smart guy, and that will work in his favour. He won't go in there with a brainless game plan and I think if things aren't going well, he will have the know-how to adapt.

I like both Usyk and Joyce. I'd favour Usyk, but not by a landslide I think it has the potential to be a terrific bout. Both will go on to be in great bouts regardless of who wins.

 

...beating hard.

 

No way

 

You aren't wrong in that based on the eye test, nothing stands out. Write him off at your peril though, as I did. He's very effective at what his does, fights smart, has a good gas tank and decent fight IQ and isnt an easy night for anyone.

 

Someone with quick feet and a good mover is a bad style match up for Joyce.

That describes Usyk perfectly.

I see Joyce starting strong and winning 2 or 3 of the first 4 rounds. Then Usyk steps on the gas and outboxes him winning a clear decision.

Joyces only real chance is to hurt Usyk early when Usyk is pitter pattering around, feeling him out. Otherwise Usyk will win this comfortably.

 

Is he obese? Yes, he is slow and with considerably worse gas tank than Usyk does have but he is not obese at all.

 

I personally will not underestimate Joyce, people said that Dubois would beat Joyce but he lost the fight, Usyk has an extraordinary technique but Joyce is a brute force and I think he can beat Usyk...

 

Yep, the ref finally decided to make Chisora follow the rules of boxing and Usyk was able to use his skill to take over the fight. Usyk is giving up size to pretty much any HW these days. If a ref decides to let bigger guys hold him or wrestle him in ways that are technically not allowed, it’s going to be difficult for him to do what he needs to do to win fights.

I get a kick out of guys calling Usyk puny or weak. He’s a cruiserweight without a huge punch, beating much bigger stronger guys in a weight class well above his natural weight. Is there any other boxer in the game taking these types of chances with larger opponents? Canelo is fighting bigger guys but he’s packed on serious muscle and doesn’t look undersized at 168 or even 175. Usyk is older and is winning on ring IQ and skill against guys who are naturally much bigger. Win or lose, I’m surprised people fail to comprehend what this guy is trying to do.

 

Yet Usyk has found a way to beat every opponent he’s faced as a pro. He’s giving up huge size and weight and winning on boxing skill. I’m not sure I’d call him puny, he’s a legit cruiser weight but he’s a small HW, compared to some of the giants who occupy the weight class. If you don’t respect what he’s doing, you aren’t a boxing fan. This isn’t about a giant beating smaller guys, giants should beat smaller guys. Guys like Usyk are rare. No other fighter in boxing is giving up as much size as he is and he just continues to win, passing off the likes of you.

 

He's 6'3 and a solid 225 he should have been a heavyweight all along. Chisoras weight "advantage" came in the form of pure body fat and flab. You don't prove yourself a rare fighter by beating guys like bellew and Chisora you do it by beating great fighters and he hasn't yet

 

Chisora was a good test, the win showed Usyk can compete at heavyweight and be a good contender. The elite heavyweights will be a step too far in my opinion.