The Usyk and Lebedev camps began negotiations.

Will he move up after this?

 

Lebedev, then the winner of the WBSS, then move up to heavyweight.

Seems like a sensible plan.

I'd like to see him beat Ward, who will demand home advantage, a huge payday and dodgy officials including a referee who will call a TKO after a series of low blows.

 

I dont think he needs to prove anything more at cruiser.

 

The sensible plan is to move to HW. More expousre , better fights and way more money.

There's nothing left for him at CW and he's way above the level of everybody there. Its time to move up. Its disappointing to hear this tbh. I thought it was a given he was moving to HW

 

Usyk has said he wants to unify the Heavyweight division and then retire. So Im assuming heavyweight is on his radar. Usyk will have the best resume in boxing if he keeps on taking on the best.

 

Hope this isnt true. Lebedev is no threat whatsoever.

 

I don’t see the point at all. Go to heavyweight and get some warm up fights while the top of the division fight it out and then go for a title when he he’s ready.

 

Would much prefer to see him go to heavy. The guy is 32 in January and realistically after a couple of tune ups to adjust to the weight he could be 34 before fighting for a title. Maybe that's not too old for a heavy but he relies much more on speed and movement than the others.

 

pointless fight.. wtf usyk -.-

 

Give him a break. He's fought the strongest and best cruiserweights in 2018.

It's a good stay-busy fight, Lebedev is the final opponent he needs to beat to completely clean out the cruiserweight division.

 

Pretty pointless fight. Usyk already easily outclassed Gassiev who beat a several years younger but still on the slide Lebedev. At this stage Lebedev could get seriously hurt. His face will be target practice for Usyk's shots.

 

This. A complete waste of a fight. Lebdev is 39 years old and shot. Lebdev hasn’t looked good in at least 4-5 years. If Usyk is getting a good payday I don’t blame him for taking an easy fight, but I hope he doesn’t waste too much more time at cruiserweight, since he’s 31 years old and speed is the first thing to go.

 

While I agree it’s kinda pointless, Usyik deserves a break after a tough schedule in 2018.
The heavies are sorting out themselves. I do believe usyik will move up but doesn’t plan to stay long at heavyweight. Maybe shoot for the championship and retire soon after.