These "Usyk is too small for HW" threads need to stop

Is Ruiz undersized for the division? Or Povetkin? Parker's not much bigger than Usyk and doesn't possess one iota of the skills. Wilder weighs about the same as Usyk. Hunter is a former CW himself who got beaten down by Usyk. The only truly huge top level HWs in the division right now are Joshua and Fury, and Joshua just got beaten by a man who probably should fight at CW to begin with. Breazeale is awful, Pulev is ancient, Ortiz is even more ancient, Joyce got beaten by Usyk once before, Kownacki is a punch bag, Miller is a punchbag, Whyte is overweight but not much bigger than Usyk.

I hold high hopes for Usyk and don't believe size should be used against him (or as an excuse if he fails to perform either).

 

Don't worry everyone will soon be an Usyk fan

 

It's the overall equation of height, reach and natural fighting weight which makes Uysk different from Ruiz. Pretty sure Uysk couldn't deliver his skills weighing 260+llbs, so in that respect, yeah he is undersized compared to Ruiz. Wilder weighs no more than Uysk is likely to, but he's taller and much rangier, so looking at the overall picture... bigger too.

I agree, size should not be an excuse and I don't see many people making it. Only threatened fans of other fighters want to draw attention, and my point was: if people are gonna make a big deal about how his lack of size is the determining factor, they have to give him a free pass if he comes up short. Can't have it both ways.

I hope he doesn't come in too big. 215-220 would be just fine...

 

The only fight that Wilder actually used his big reach properly was the first one against Stiverne. He really kept Stiverne at a distance. Other than that Wilder shows 0 technique, it's a freaking easy win for Usyk. Just imagine Tyson Fury but lighter and way way slicker at around 220.

 

The WSB is not the best of the hvw division. Not even close. Usyk will have to prove himself at heavy and then prove himself against the elite...who are naturally bigger than him.

 

Usyk is not artificially bulking up like Holyfield did, he’s a fighter who cut weight to get down and fight at cruiserweight. His size won’t be a problem, my only concern is his punching power. No stoppages at all in 24 amateur bouts and only a 33% stoppage ratio in the WBS. His pro ratio is very respectable at 75% but more so an accumulation of shots to get the job done. I back him to unify the division but will be more confident when I know he has the dig on him to keep the bigger boys honest.

 

Usyk had greater height and reach than Ruiz, so that's two out of three already. As for weight, are you seriously going to tell me that 260 or whatever is Ruiz's ideal weight? It's amazing that he's still able to function at world level while so obviously morbidly obese, but I don't see his weight being an advantage in any way against Usyk, or agains the rest of the fighters in the division.

Wilder is taller and rangier than Usyk while weighing a similar weight, but he has no idea how to use his attributes and is too easily befuddled into giving up his height, so I can't say that's a particular advantage either. It could be, if he used it properly, but he so seldom does.

 

No. Which is why I didn't say that.

 

I mean, I agree with a lot of what you say. Trouble with assessing Wilder, is he doesn't lay out a game plan to win on points - as you know. So most boxers can outbox him - Uysk will for sure - but this doesn't phase him a jot. He just looks for an opening, and to be fair to him, he takes his chances if and when they arise. So I'd expect Uysk to handle him easily and stack up the the rounds as he does so. But at some point Wilder will probably land something huge. That's the question mark right there, and something we won't know the answer to until some big punching HW finds Uysk's chin...

 

totally agree. Also, I’m not ready to declare him the best HW on the planet before he faces his first opponent at HW. I expect him to do great things at the new weight but I’ve been wrong before and would like to see how he performs before anointing him king of the heavies. Cruiser weights don’t hit as hard as heavies and Usyk is going to face bigger and stronger opponents than he has ever faced. He will be giving up height and weight in every fight and he’s 32 years old. I only bring up his age because he’s a guy who relies on athletic skill to win fights. If his footwork slows down slightly or he loses stamina, he could lose the advantage he has at the higher weight.

Also, I don’t expect Usyk to fight at this weight for long. Maybe two years or so. Once he slows down, bigger guys will start landing more and he will have real trouble at HW. Bigger guys like wlad could compete forever because of their freakish size. Evander, a small heavy, did it for a long time but I suspect he had some pharma assistance and was a different type of fighter. I wish him well and will be rooting for Usyk in all of his fights.

 

It's just so hard to judge. He's an excellent fighter, that much we know. And I guess if you look at Hunter's relative success at HW (not that he has beat anyone world class) then you can make good arguments. Plus the WSb experience et al. But as cliche as it is, the pro game is SO different.

I hope he does well because his CW work was amazing. He's a legit dude who'll fight anyone

 

I cant crown Usyk king of the heavyweights untill he faces his mountain of a test in Chaz Witherspoon.

 

Yes.

 

Well I don't see what advantage Ruiz's weight is over Usyk.

 

It's pretty simple really. His ideal weight might not be 260+llbs but he's still very effective at that weight. Considering his reach and height are in the same ball park as Uysk's that means he would likely match up against him with similar fundamental stats apart from weight, where he would likely have an approx 40llbs advantage. That makes him a much bigger HW and, therefore, a poor comparison in terms of fighters competing as HWs. You compared them as boxers of similar size and I don't agree they are.