Kovalev could box quite well behind a jab but he was far from a pure boxer so your point stands . I don't think you're a minority in thinking that but I just feel Ward was a touch better, anyway time will tell and Usyk exploits at HW might elevate my opinion of him .
Prime Usyk in overall was yeah, now he is over the hill. Watch how mobile he was vs Witherspoon and vs Gassiev and Briedis before get any single punch and you will get reality here. Usyk is over the hill. While for prime Usyk there were disadvantages he might had compensated with some his advantages. He also was a bit lucky, if he had fight vs Briedis in US not Latvia, Briedis most likely had obliterated him with clinch and diryboxe. Usyk was enough respected name in his country and most likely cos this he could not afford to do this. Still when he pushed Usyk, he fall cos slip. Imagine what had happened if his surname was Glowacki? LOL. Body should be put where mouth is and Usyk was cool lad before fight. There are things I think Usyk might learn from Andre Ward and this might be paid with high long term reward. Actually if I now was young lad, aspiring up comer with $ I might be happy to get some tutelage from Andre Ward, Don Turner etc ppl.
Joshua needs to make Usyk uncomfortable with pressure but also keep himself composed and not let himself tire out. If he uses enough pressure on Usyk and lands heavy shots i think he can get the knockout.
For me the one big difference between Usyk and Ward is Uysk won all his titles in his opponents backyward, with nothing in his favour, yet Ward hardly ever left Oakland, always had the deck stacked in his favour. I would like to have seen Ward have fought at least once on his travels in the opponents back yard in the Super 6; would he have gotten away with his headbutts and fouls against Kessler in Copenhagen? How would he have fared against a very different Froch in Nottingham? Now don't get my wrong, I think Ward would likely have found a way to win both those encounters, he had great ring IQ and could adapt well. But as a truly elite talent, we never really saw him do that when he wasn't the A-side. Usyk on the other hand has no doubts - yet again he is going to have to not only beat AJ, but the ref, the judges and whatever other crap Edday has concocted to protect his cash-cow.
Well, his first title fight really was as away lad vs tickets seller A side lad in Poland who was 2-0 in World title fight. Then vs Hunter, if they were able, they had did all the best to announce Hunter as winner cos origin, we do know big game and reality here. Then a bit vs Huck. Vs Briedis and Gassiev he had less danger to get jobbed on cards. Of course he, like clenbuterol had been treated properly vs denmark boxer in his opponent's promoter's show. In Russia too. Vs Kovalev. Damn, this HOLY dirtyboxer Ward had most likely get NC and Clenbuterol had lost vs GGG with 0 doubts. Nothing wrong, pro boxing is entertainment business show for lads who are too old to be top amatuers, nothing more. Old lads moves to pro ranks to get more $. Pro boxing is to sell object like actor and milk him. Better origin, better promoter. LOL. Someone does think Usyk or A.J are now in top shape? LOL.
AJ isn`t good at pressuring fighters he`s better standing off and working behind his long jab, his hooks aren`t that good, he`s easy to counter on the front foot.
Pathetic when a man not only can't admit he's wrong but still convincing himself he's right when his miscalculation stares him right in the face
This one. A.J will won I think by 99.9%. Still he will be mediocre boxer and still A.J level is above mediocrity hype jobs like Lewis.