Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk vs. Alexander Vladimirovich Povetkin - 12 rounds at HW, mid-2020

This was a fight being hinted at in 2019. Had it come to fruition, let's say it takes place in summer of the following year and pits the Povetkin that beat Whyte against the Usyk that beat Chisora.

One inch height and three inch reach advantage for the Ukrainian southpaw.

Common opponents:

• Marco Huck - lost to Povetkin via MD12 in 2012, and to Usyk via TKO10 in 2017
  
  
• Michael Hunter - lost to Usyk via UD12 in 2017, and fought Povetkin to a split draw over twelve in 2019.
  
  * note: Anthony Joshua doesn't count here for comparison's sake, as only Povetkin would have faced him yet in 2020.

I'll tell you one thing. It would have been a ridiculously high combined level of skill for a heavyweight contest.

 

Sasha was obviously past his best and winding down his career with the Whyte fights, but - Usyk didn't quite get his bearings at HW until after Chisora. So this would be interesting.

 

I think I remember seeing that if Povetkin had won the Whyte rematch in 2021, negotiations with Usyk may have restarted. (so that would pit the Whyte II version of him against the Joshua I version of Usyk)

 

I think in this period, 2020-2021, it's a 117-111 and 116-112 range decision for Usyk. Any later, and it gets wider (perhaps even a stoppage).

 

That fight pissed me off. Fast Eddie was cruising until he inexplicably abandoned his jab.

 

That would at least make sense, if he just gassed out. He literally STOPPED JABBING altogether, despite having dominated the first half with his jab. It was mystifying.

 

I'd bet if this poll was made in 2019 or even 2020 (after Usyk vs. Witherspoon & Chisora), it'd be a lot closer.

There were lots of doubters in Usyk's ability to become a force at HW.

 

Remember though, people were clanging the doom & gloom bell for Usyk's chances at heavyweight because of his supposed lackluster performances against Witherspoon and Chisora.

So it was a shot Povetkin yes but also not yet a fully acclimated Usyk.