Usyk too small to compete at HW? I just don't see it.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by tinman, Jul 24, 2018.


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  1. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

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    Yes he's a little smaller than most top HW's. No top HW besides Wilder can make CW, and even he, I suspect would be drained at the weight.

    That said from a H2H perspective I don't size being a factor in him moving up. The dooming thing for him that I could see would be his lack of power. He hit Gassiev with combo after combo and couldn't daze the man. Now we know Gassiev has a very sturdy chin, but Usyk could have been in a little more trouble if Gassiev was a pressure fighter instead of a methodical puncher trying to break you down with meticulous punches. Gassiev's puncher style played right into the hands of Usyk's master technician style. Not taking anything away from Usyk, but the styles were in his favor.

    That said, I don't see anybody at HW with the style to walk down Usyk relentlessly. There are no notable pressure fighters in the HW division. Usyk would be in serious trouble if Joe Frazier or Mike Tyson were currently on the scene, but I don't see anybody with that style currently at HW. And he could possibly be troubled by Fury's 6'9" 85 inch reach stature, but he's a fat delusional man right now.

    At 6'3" 78 inch reach he's not the biggest HW. But he doesn't need to be 6'6", 240 lbs with an 81 inch reach to take over the division. David Haye lost to Wlad, but beat some other top HW's. And he's got virtually the same dimensions as Usyk. Except he's less skilled.
     
    tinman, Jul 24, 2018
    tinman, Jul 24, 2018
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  2. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    People would have no problems saying Ali was big enough to compete at HW, but apparently Usyk is too small. The blinding effect of fighting in another weight division I guess.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
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  3. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    He looked fine in the WSB and imo he looked bigger than Gassiev. Not saying he was actually bigger than Gassiev, if either of the two were to move up i would bet on Usyk.
     
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
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  4. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    Gassiev would just be another tough, hard punching dude at HW, and he'd be outsized by a lot of fighters, albeit his skills would be superior to a lot of the other bangers at that weight. Usyk possesses a unique skillset and relies on his elusiveness and speed, which is only going to hold good stead against the slower, less skilled crop of heavies he'll be fighting.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
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  5. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

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    Yea I'd suspect that Joshua would fight Gassiev similar to the way he fought Parker. By playing keep away. Joshua wants no part of his chin touched by Gassiev's massive power.

    Gassiev is good fighter, but until he figures out a way to more effectively land his power he won't be beating any elite fighters. It took a p4p guy like Usyk to expose him, so he's real solid.

    Usyk is going to look somewhat small at HW. I suspect it will be obvious that this was once a CW champ. But the same was true of Holyfield. Despite all the roids he never lost that Cruiser look. Those slim hips, legs and 6'1" stature was all natural Cruiserweight.
     
    tinman, Jul 24, 2018
    tinman, Jul 24, 2018
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  6. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    I kinda misspoke there. I didn't mean to comment on their respective successes at heavyweight. I meant to say that if either were to move up, imo it would be Usyk because he looked the bigger man in there.
     
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
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  7. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    :lol: Well no ****! I doubt anyone would even dare. Gassiev got Usyk off guard a few times and landed some solid shots, and you saw just how uncomfortable that made Usyk.
    The otherwise calm Usyk looked a bit panicky in those moments.
     
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
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  8. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    Ah, right. Still, I think both could comfortably move up. Gassiev's solid as a rock, while Usyk's quite gangly and loose. They're both huge for the division at the moment.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
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  9. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    I liked Gassiev's composure in the early stages. He really looked to be shaking Usyk up with those sharp bodyshots and well-timed over the top right hands. Usyk is a great adapter though, and when he kicked it up a notch Gassiev couldn't hang with him.

    I'd love to see Gassiev vs Briedis. I think that'd be a very competitive fight, despite their respective performances against their common opponent.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
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  10. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    I want to see this guy get a crack at either guy :rossthebosshttp://boxrec.com/en/boxer/470367
     
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
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  11. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    Yeah, definitely. And I'd like to see Lebedev back in the mix with those guys, old warhorse that he is.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 24, 2018
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  12. Nopporn

    Nopporn Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    C'mon now! Lets do it. I just wanna see what Usyk really can do at this biggest Division.
     
    Nopporn, Jul 24, 2018
    Nopporn, Jul 24, 2018
    #12
  13. Badbot

    Badbot You can just do things. Full Member

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    Bring on the second series of WBSS Cruiserweights!!! Just such a good division.
     
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    Badbot, Jul 24, 2018
    #13
  14. slender4

    slender4 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Ali didn't just fight 12 even rounds with a 200 lb. guy from Latvia.
     
    slender4, Jul 24, 2018
    slender4, Jul 24, 2018
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  15. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    Yeah, that sounds more like Joe Louis to be fair.
     
    It's Ovah, Jul 25, 2018
    It's Ovah, Jul 25, 2018
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