Usyk In The Early 1900's?

The man would get mauled pretty thoroughly going by the rules of the era. I think his gas tank would be strained fighting that many rounds as well.

 

The only guy who remotely gives him trouble is Johnson. He could spoil and extend the rounds, but ultimately probably lose too.

 

As a Dane, I second that!

 

The short answer is that I just don't buy that Johnson's legendary infighting was as lethal and unstoppable as you make it out to be--especially not against a talented athlete his own size. I think you're also underestimating how much damage Usyk might be able to inflict from long distance, while moving and forcing Johnson to constantly reset. Usyk knows how to fight off his back foot and could potentially outpoint Johnson through his jab and footwork alone. He can create angles with his footwork and has a wide arsenal of punches he can use against someone trying to rush him.

 

I do think that there is an issue regarding the rule set.

He would have to learn new skills quickly, and it is impossible to say how well he does.

 

It's not even a case of his in fighting needing to be legendary. It's a case sticking someone who's good at something, against someone who doesn't have a clue how to do it, or handle it.

Picking someone off from range can work, but it wouldn't even slightly in this case, because wwhen that's the strategy, the other part is when the opponent gets in clsoe they clinch and reset. Whereas Johnson would start battering him. Like I said, Johnson could simply rush in, and force a clinch, and Usyk's pretty much got nothing in responce. Usyk's only going to land a few punches during the rush before the clinch, at which point he's going to start taking a beating. Or as soon as he manages to get the right sort of block, he can also quickly grab the arm and turn in into his fight. And this is all conceeding a lot for the sake of argument. I think there's a lot more to Johnson than just his fighting in the clinch.

 

If I was getting Usky ready to fight somebody like Jeffries or Johnson, I would honestly have him sparring with MMA fighters!

 

All due respect Wilt was more athletic and talented then anyone on the warriors. They would be inefficient because they can’t post up and would be forced to take outside shots. They would probably be called for traveling every play lol it’s something that was called far more often then. Warriors wouldn’t know how to handle the aggressive defense as no one was ever guarded that way. And Bill Russell would be by far the best player on the court. That’s not a shot at the warriors who have two top twenty guys ever but no one was better defensively ever then Mr Russell. Not even close. His athleticism is also underrated. He would be a top player in any era.

 

He absolutely clowns everyone but Johnson. He boxes circles around the crouching Jeffries and backfooot Fitz. So far as the rule set , I'm pretty sure it still allowed hitting and not being hit (which seemed optional to many of those back then).. He would carve up those guys and have them swinging at air. So far as imposing physical will in the clinch, Usyk is far from weak and is himself physically more imposing than the lot of them, perhaps with the exception of Jeffries (who himself was pushed around like a wind-up toy by the smaller Johnson). And please spare me the olde forgotten science of clinch fighting. Usyk has been at the game since he was 15 and fought 360 or so amateur fights before going pro. He's seen it all and adjusted to more variables than guys like Corbett and Jeffries, with their two dozen fights, would in a dozen careers.

At 6-3 with a 78" reach and at his fight night weight of 210, he would be listed as a giant. With that footwork and speed, it would like showing a dog a card trick. The rubes in the audience would probably dunk him as a witch.

 

Pure gold.

 

It would be fun to see that is for sure. He is a champion and would win more than he'd lose.

 

You're an interesting one, as always

1. 6'3" 210lbs wouldn't be a giant in that era. Willard, Bob Armstrong, Fred Fulton, Bill Tate, etc would all dwarf him. The average heavyweight was 6'1" 196lbs, that's not even a huge difference

2. Usyk doesnt have athletic feats that stack up to, say, Jeffries.

3. Usyk would just be a bigger, harder hitting, southpaw Corbett. That's impressive, I even pick him to beat Johnson (stylistically), but how can you say he beats Willard/Jeffries in a 45 rounder? Usyk doesnt have the gas tank

Not to mention the rule set was different, Usyk would have problems adjusting. Especially to smaller gloves. He'd most likely injure his hands at some point.

 

Willard and Fulton were in the 1910's not 1900's.

Jack Johnson was listed as the Galveston Giant at 6 foot and one half inch, 192 pounds with a 74" reach.

I am assuming the Usyk's hands would last. Perhaps he even has to request the extra wrapping like Fitz often requested.