Usyk Against Holyfield s Opponents?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, May 12, 2025 at 5:36 AM.


  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Usyk against Holyfield s heavyweight opposition.. Question is, where would he fall first?

    I' see him beating all the real deals early heavyweight s, up till Bowe in 92 .
    Whenever he gets revenge in the rematch is hard to say.
     
  2. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    He'd beat Bowe. The timelines obviously don't work though. If he just gets to eternally be 35, we might be looking at the GOAT.
     
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  3. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    I don't think he'd best Bowe but that's just my opinion.
    Let's say that we could pretty much have Usyk At his best, against all Holy s foes, then do you see him losing to anyone at all?
     
  4. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    The problem is that it is extremely difficult to maintain that level over the course of 10 years. And each fight will take something out of you.

    I don't see 90's Foreman or 90's Holmes troubling Usyk much.

    I don't see an unmotivated Douglas doing much vs Usyk either.

    Bowe could be very competitive. However, unless Usyk decides to trade with him, i think Usyk is smart enough to win a decision. I don't think Bowe has the defense to handle the southpaw left hand and as long as Usyk hits him with 2-3 punch combinations and avoids engaging on the inside, he should win a decision albeit with some rocky moments. I favour Usyk 70-30 here. That being said, if they fight 3 times, Bowe is bound to probably win one.

    Moorer could trouble Usyk given their similar stances. Then again Moorer wasn't the best defensively and i just think Usyk is a smarter boxer and should win a close decision.

    Pre prison Tyson, i favour over Usyk. But 96-97 Tyson, i don't think he can beat Usyk. I think Tyson has loads of success early but starts fading and eventually gets stopped or outpointed.

    Lewis-Usyk is 50-50. If Usyk walks into big shots like uppercuts like he did vs Fury, he would get stopped. That being said, Lewis had very average defense which would be below average vs a left hander like Usyk. If Lewis is overly cautious, he gets outpointed by the smaller quicker man. If Lewis gets careless and walks into a big left, he would get ko'd worse than he did vs Rahman.

    Bottom line: at his best, i would probably favour Usyk over all of Holyfield's heavyweight opponents. That being said, if he had 5 fights vs Lewis and Bowe combined, do i see him going 5-0? Probably not. Moorer and Mercer wouldn't be easy fights and neither would 96 Tyson even though i favour Usyk over all of them.
     
  5. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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  6. JurgyH

    JurgyH New Member Full Member

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    He's never been close to being destroyed, ever.

    Lewis on the other hand..
     
  7. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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    Levels, he's also never fought anyone on the same planet as Lewis, or really 96 Tyson or 92 Bowe either, even Mercer for that matter, and let's not forget Toney
     
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  8. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lewis never faced a good southpaw. Word is he was steered away from them. No Moorer, No Sanders, and No Byrd. He even got rid of a belt rather than face Byrd. Lewis resume also rather short on the boxer mover types overall as well. I’d favor Usyk over Lewis before I’d favor Usyk over Bowe or Tyson.
     
  9. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    So let's get this straight, you made your account today, your an EE fanboy and you love Corrie Sanders. Stop the alts bro, it's too obvious. Foreman KO's Povetkin btw
     
  10. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Could Usyk beat a slightly past it Bowe?

    I can't quite make up my mind on that one.
     
  11. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold Still raging that we didnt see Bowe V Lewis Full Member

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    Riddick Bowe was better than anyone Usyk fought. He was more than good enough to cut the ring and bully Usyk on the inside - he doesn't get enough credit for his skill.

    Lennox would also beat Usyk.

    Tyson 1996 was too washed up for Usyk but prime Tyson sparks Usyk out.

    Usyk beats those versions of Foreman, Holmes, Douglas that Holyfield beat, and Moorer. Qawi and Mercer would be tough fights stylistically but Usyk would win too IMO.
     
  12. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I would favor Usyk over everyone except Lewis. Bowe would be the toughest fight but he's too slow and not good enough on the outside to ever be able to beat Usyk. Lewis would be a 50/50 though I think Usyk has traits that would give Lewis a hard fight so I think he would edge it at the end but wouldn't surprise me if Lewis wins.
     
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  13. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He'd beat Bowe and Lewis. 96-97 Tyson would make for an interesting style match up.
     
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  14. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    Let him fight Holyfield too, Usyk would be an unfortunate match up against EH. OU probably beats Bowe, Bowe really showed his hand (IQ) against Golota -Lewis didn’t fight Southpaws (hint?) but Usyk fought significantly bigger guys who resided in the same tier as the “best around” at HW I’m not sure Lennox is really THAT much more skilled then guys Usyk has beaten he’s fought a collection of small and skilled opponents and large less skilled guys for example James Toney’s boxing matches down at 160lbs-175lbs would’ve prepared him for 190lbs+ (Jirov ain’t much compared to McCallum) OU’s shown his style isn’t limited by his physical disadvantages already and I think he’s a better boxer then LL but it’d be 50-50 IMO. OU really has proven to be a H2H awesome fighter and I’m surprise he isn’t championed more he’s a 210lbs+ 6ft3 guy outboxing all the SHWs who are meant to turn everyone from before the 80s-90s into dust.
     
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  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is the salient point.

    Great as Usyk is, he has a comparatively narrow window of form in the professional game, at least relative to Holyfield.

    It's looking a bit like the argument "this bum would be favorite over all Joe Louis's opponents in his prime, ergo this bum as good as Joe Louis."
     
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