Usyk: late to HW but why?

"Although I don't agree with it, I can kind of understand your speculation regarding K2 promotions"

Why don't you agree with it? Usyk and Wlad were both K2, K2 could have engineered a fight if they wished (rather than the likes of Leapai or whoever). They made no attempt and had zero interest because:

1. Wlad was a global superstar, Usyk was a relative nonentity (if Wlad lost it would have been bad, if Usyk lost it would have been pointless and a waste)

2. Wlad was a Ukrainian national hero, Usyk had the potential to be post-Wlad (as has transpired)

3. Wlad was a long established champion with years left in him, the 0-0 smaller and less powerful Usyk may not have been able to fill that role

4. Usyk could enter the heavyweight picture post-Wlad and potentially extend Ukrainian/K2 dominance (as has transpired) rather than compete for it

Usyk was probably always confident of having major success at heavyweight. I remember a video of him calling out Wlad and Vitali on a TV show, I think from 2013. A quick search showed that Usyk said in 2014 that he would move up to heavyweight after he'd ran out of good challengers at cruiser. Usyk also claimed that he had been studying Joshua since 2011 or 2012, likely with a view to fighting him.

https://boxingnewsonline.net/exclus...and-win-the-world-title-in-11-fights-or-less/

"But stating that the whole "Ukrainian boxing fraternity" would deliberately downplay Usyk in comments to some local Crimean website"

The men you were quoting were among the most influential people within Ukrainian boxing, with titles like "President of the National Professional Boxing League of Ukraine" and "head coach of the Ukrainian national boxing team". Claiming that they had "NO personal interest" in Wlad remaining heavyweight champion and Usyk going in another direction is far-fetched in my opinion. Whether conscious or subconscious, the establishment in Ukraine would have wanted Wlad to remain champion and dismissed any notion of an unknown fighter from their nation challenging him, with it being more efficient that Usyk pick up another Olympic gold medal or win titles at cruiser while Wlad finished his run as champion before moving up. The Ukrainian boxing industry obviously benefits (directly or indirectly) from maximising Ukrainian boxing success.