Usyk need to stop avoiding Itauma

He should either retire or reign as a champion.

this rico fight is indefensible.

Neither deserve a shot, but Rico isn’t even an active hw boxer, never mind a contender

 

Itauma would be a good name in Usyk's résumé. He will likely be one of the top heavyweights in a few years. Unfortunately, they are from different generations so if the fight will happen, it needs to happen soon. Usyk is near the end of his career and Itauma is at the start

 

Sorry. Misunderstood.

 

Uh no. Itauma could very well be the future but hasn’t beat anyone of note. Usyk who beat Fury, Joshua and Dubois is not afraid at all. He is slick enough he could ruin Itauma’s career. Give the great kid a chance to develop more. Historically many top young guys have been rushed and ruined that way.

 

If Itauma beats a top 10 rated Heavyweight in impressive fashion then yes I'm all for the Usyk fight.

Until then no I'm not interested in the fight at all.

Itauma has literally not been tested at all in his professional career so far.

Yet you want to put him in with Usyk ? Makes 0 sense to me and could ruin his development rushing him into a fight of that magnitude.

 

We seem to have a bit of confusion. I posted that “there is a pecking order amongst the mandatory’s to face Usyk and Kabayel is next and a win over Franklin does not leap frog Itauma over any of them” Itauma not being a mandatory to Usyk does not figure in that pecking order to fight him !

 

I am quoting the thread title and first post by Big Man in that exchange with catchwboxing as we seem to have a bit of confusion between us over one of my posts. I clearly stated in post 7 of this thread my thoughts being that Itauma isn’t anywhere near Usyk at this moment,nowhere have I stated that Usyk is avoiding Itauma !

 

DUDE.

"there is a pecking order amongst the mandatory’s"

Then you talk about Itauma. That would imply that you think he is a mandatory.

Your language is inelegant.

 

The confusion is that you’re implying I think Itauma is a mandatory to Usyk,we both know he is not. Then I further stated that Itauma’s win over Franklin will not leap frog him over any of them ! Meaning that his win over Franklin will not get him the Usyk fight before the mandatory’s in the pecking order ! Itauma like you mentioned is Mandatory to Gassiev after the Pulev win and also the recommended mandatory to Wardley after the Franklin win .

 

Because you seemed to imply so with your language.

 

Usyk would ruin Itauma now. Usyk would let some early rounds go as he times Itauma and finds the distance and then he'd do what he always does - increase his workrate and drown the opponent from all angles. Given that Itauma already looks like he has stamina problems against weak opposition he would get absolutely demolished in the later rounds; very likely stopped and his career prospects and aura would be vaporised.

Itauma is riding on a Mike Tyson style intimidating invincible monster hype right now, once that goes he'll go with it.

 

Its unfortunetly not a just "cash grab farce " - usyk wants seriously to be called it a WBC world title defence . He wants to really tell the world how he honorably defended his belt on the african continent !

Of course you are right that itauma is not in the first in line for a title shot . But since usyk avoids anybody who is / was a serious contender , why not throw itauma into the show ? Everybody knows usyk will avoid him regardless if itauma deserves a shot or not .

 

Outside of Father Time doing a number on Usyk and Itauma starting explosively and getting summat big early, I think this is highly likely, Usyk is MANY levels above ANY of Itauma's opponents, and a similar or showing to Dubois 2 or even worse a Zags/Lacy type drubbing could completely derail the hypetrain entirely - and given I get the sense that Itauma isn't that heavily 'into' boxing, the psychologicaly damage could be irreparable. And for Usyk, the 'young lion / future great' would then become similar to Lacy on Zags resume, totally devalued and downplayed.

 

He's avoiding someone who hasn't beat a ranked fighter yet? Nonsense. If Usyk beat him now he'd get zero credit and be accused of ducking more experienced and worthy fighters like Kabayel, Wardley (if he beats Dubois), Parker etc.

I would be surprised if the Itauma team even want that fight at this stage.

Itauma should face a couple of contenders first. Yes, even today's Itauma would be a better fight than Verhoeven, but next year Itauma-Usyk might be the fight to make, so better to wait until then.