Size maxis in shambles

I would add that Fury almost certainly relinquished the Ring Title when he did, so that it would automatically go to the winner of this fight.

Whether that was done to promote a potential fight between himself and the winner, or just to ensure a straightforward succession, only time will tell.

 

When playing fantasy fights and bringing up Ali, do people talk about how he's small? No. So why is Usyk small? He's pretty much bang-on the same dimensions as Ali.

I've pointed this out. If Usyk isn't a real HW, most of the 70's guys weren't.

 

OK, but Joe Louis frequently gets accused of being small, perhaps in part because of his era.

He was within a few pounds of Usky, at the same age, without ever touching weights.

Their early amateur/professional records might suggest that Louis was naturally bigger.

We clearly aren't looking at any sort of gulf here.

Usky beats the big guys the hard way, while Louis did it the easy way.

 

The goalposts keep getting moved on that issue.

Look, AJ was able to hide behind his physical assets for quite awhile and amassed a very successful career. But he could be mentally broken and be revealed that his fighting core was fairly frail. It took A LOT to do that, but a couple guys now have done that, primarily with speed and agility. With Ruiz it was more like catching lightning in a bottle while with Usyk is was more intentional and fluid. Still, when his opponents didn't play by the script, stay in front of him and take a proper beating at his pace and direction, he didn't have much of a plan B and his confidence dwindled quickly

All that said, AJ still beats the vast majority of heavies from the past 20 years. And you can't say he was out there ducking stiff competition. He should be applauded for the effort he has given. In the end, he is what he is, an elite heavy but not great.

 

1. No, Usyk isn’t small by 70s standards.

However, not to pick p-hairs, but he appears to stand more in the realm of 6’2” and 6’2 1/2”.

6’3” might appear to hold up in relative terms but then there’s a lot of fighters who have fudged or rounded up similarly - so side by side, while 6’3” might look about right - it’s still illusory.

AJ , who is no more than 6’6” and perhaps a bit shy of that himself - can look, on average over the top of Usyk’s head - so that’s at least a 4” height advantage beyond the level of AJ’s eyes.

Not that he doesn’t hit hard but it’d be nice if Usyk carried a more potent punch - but then it’s a catch 22. given the extensive movement required (= inability to get perfectly set) against dimensionally (height and reach) larger opposition.

All be that, the man (Usyk) takes a terrific, proven SHW punch.

While GF should be qualified as a less common, elite puncher in his own era, I think it’s obvious that he took in that much more of punch than Usyk does at the same weight, aided and abetted by Foreman’s lesser movement.

So, while Foreman won’t display the mobility and flexibility of a Usyk, he won’t have to against the likes of AJ, whose clock he would clean in just a few rounds.

Each and every time George cracks him - AJ will also lend to his own defeat by instantly becoming that much more timid.

 

So there is a chance that Rocky Marciano can rule in this era of giants???

 

Yes, at 168.

 

Wilder is trash. Literally beat no one of note.
AJ has wins over Wlad, Povetkin, Whyte, Parker, Ruiz, Pulev and more.

 

Ortiz was better than all except Wlad, who received no rematch.

 

. Ortiz isn’t in the ball park of Povetkin…like not close. He was ok but not anything worth writing home about. Agree to disagree.

 

Povetkin was far gone when he fought AJ. Ortiz was past it but still holding it together for Wilder.

Povetkin looked like crap in every fight after AJ with the exception of a single left uppercut.

 

No. Not even be competitive at heavyweight.

 

I think AJ is a great Super Heavyweight.

I agree. In this new division, you cannot ask for much more. Fans would like to see Fury on that list for traditions sake..but in the absence of that, it’s a good resume.

 

Before heavyweight became the Superheavyweight division plenty of guys that size ruled the real heavyweight division so you can’t say a heavyweight great wouldn’t be competitive in his own weight class. When those guys fought it still was the heavyweight division. It isn’t anymore.

 

Can't say it? I said it.

And I'm right.