Chris Byrd Faced some of the best of his time , how do you think Usyk would have done against those guys? Vitali Klitschko Wlad Tua Ike Let's assume vitali is his first heavy weight opponent?
He's certainly shown he can deal with a variety of styles and sizes. Would like to have seen him against both Klitschko and Tua.
Ike would be a major problem he's big has the power has the workrate to live with Usyk in the later rounds he also has an iron chin. So I don't know if Usyk could win that fight especially since Ike caught up to another talented defensive southpaw in Byrd early and flattened him and Byrd had a good chin aswell. I think he outpoints Tua. I think he out points Vitali aswell. Wladimir would be a problem he has 1 punch KO power and good technical skills but Usyk is good at getting out of clinches so I'm not sure Wladimir would be effective using the clinches.
I think Usyk would outwork Vitali for a decision. Vitali would have his moments but he isn't as quick handed or as heavy handed as his brother. Usyk 7-5 UD Vitali. Usyk vs Tua - again Usyk should win. I do give Tua a 5% punchers chance since he has an enormous left hook and Usyk hasn't faced too many great left hookers. Maybe Gassiev and one or 2 others but none quite as heavy handed as Tua. I remember Joshua hurting Usyk with a big left hook in round 12 of their second fight but it was too late. Still, given that Tua lost to Byrd (who is lighter hitting than Usyk and not as defensively responsible), i can't give him more than a 5% chance. Usyk 10-2 UD Tua with David maybe having a few early moments but then being thouroughly outboxed. Usyk - Ibeaubuchi - i dislike Ike but he is a hard match for Usyk. Usyk's feinting and his southpaw left will not deter Ike from marching forward. Ike ate clean left hooks from Tua and marched forward. I don't see how Usyk deters him from coming forward. Ike could also maintain a high work rate and could throw powerful uppercuts from both hands - quite a rare skill. IMO Usyk will have to go through hell to beat Ike. Unlike Byrd, however, Usyk isn't stupid enough to stay on the ropes. Usyk will fight on the backfoot, use his jab, land 2-4 punch combinations and then flee. Ike will land a lot, however, and i think Usyk will have to absorb more punishment than he ever has before to win. Usyk 70-30 favourite for me. Usyk 7-5 UD but he has to absorb a lot of punishment. Usyk-Wlad?? Hard one. Wlad had a perfect straight right and an enormous left hook - the 2 most effective punches vs lefties. Wlad also dominated all lefties he faced except Sanders. However, Sanders was extremely heavy hitting and while Usyk has underrated power, he isn't Sanders in terms of raw power. IMO if Wlad fights aggressively and yet defensively responsible (like the second Byrd fight), and lands those straight rights and catches him with left hooks, you would make him a slight favourite. BUT Usyk is mentally tougher than Wlad. The second Usyk lands a good left and Wlad will feel stunned, he will become overly cautious. I think Usyk will be able to win a close decision and it might look a bit like the first Fury fight - Usyk getting hurt and then landing big shots to fight his way out of it. Wlad has all the physical tools to beat Usyk and yet he was an overly cautious guy with a suspect chin. If he had his brothers chin, Usyk would have little chance. I favour Usyk 60-40 but if Wlad lands those straight rights and big left hooks, he could get a tko. The referee also matters. Is Wlad allowed German referees who will allow excessive leaning? I want fair referees. Not the Germans who allowed Wlad to run rampant. Usyk close UD Vitali 7-5 Usyk wide UD Tua 10-2 Usyk close UD Ike 7-5 (toughest fight) Usyk close UD Wlad 7-5
I agree Ike is his toughest fight for sure the way to beat Usyk is with consistent pressure and being able to have stamina to carry it out in the later rounds. Ike is one of them rare Heavyweights who can throw 80 punches a round and he has the power trouble Usyk and he wouldn't be hesitant either and engage Usyk in a boxing match like Fury or Joshua.
i agree Ike is the toughest. I also think Wlad has the tools to give Usyk hell. Usyk has to step to his right to throw his left hand and if he steps to his right, he is stepping to Wlad's left - directly into firing range of Wlad's enormous left hook. The straight right hand from Wlad is also another punch that will find its mark and it will do more damage than anything Fury could throw. Yet Wlad lacked self belief, unlike Vitali or Usyk, which is why he leaned and clinched excessively. I just think Usyk is mentally tougher even though Wlad has the 2 punches in his arsenal that are southpaw killers - straight right and left hook.
He beats all of them, the most difficult one is Wladimir Klitschko stylistically because he had the best straight punches which is ideal against a shorter opponent and southpaw, and he has the lead left hook to set up the right hand, but I still feel Usyk has too many strings to his bow, the way he shifts his body into range subtly gives him more ways to land punches, he can shift to his right then throw the left to the body or the up jab to the face, whereas Klitschko’s a bit more upright which gives him less ways to set up punches and makes him more readable. Usyk could also force the errors from Klitschko by stepping into range, getting him to throw the left hook so he can duck and counter with his own left over the top, or get him to throw the right so he can get to his right and throw the right hook over the top and follow up with combinations, he’s so fluid which means he can punch off of any attack.
Fights against Ike or Wlad could go either way. As for the other two Usyk would beat both Tua and Vitali.
He'd school Tua and Vitali, especially Tua though Tua might get lucky once out of 10. Wlad and Ike are much tougher fights, i'd favour Usyk about 60/40 over Wlad but as for Ike, i might actually give him a slight edge, maybe 55/45.
He would lose to Wlad. He schools Tua. Wins pretty wide on Vitali. The great boogeyman Ike just doesn’t have enough resume to go on. Usyk by decision.
I'd have loved to see him against the big cheese duo of Wlad and Vitali. Think he beats all the others. I used to think Povetkin might rough him up but Usyk probably beats him too, his footwork is too good.
Also I don't think Ike is his toughest fight. Ike was flat footed and slow AF. Usyk has every chance of dancing around that limited slugger all night long.
