Wlad never had the actual ring IQ and foot speed of Usyk as well as upper body movement IMO, and in the actual fight with AJ he was actually more aggressive and gung ho than normal plus he was far from prime.. Add in the fact AJ at that point still had the dog in him and a good level of self belief and self confidence. Anyway, it's not long to wait now until we all see it unfold. I can't wait until the bell rings!
That's a fair point. But all that he's learned and experienced and what he is physically and mentally as a fighter, plus what he actually achieved at CW has put him in good stead and carried him very well into the HW division......yes or no? The other glaringly obvious fact is he's already difinitively beaten the man he's facing again on the 20th...... But hey, having said that it is HW boxing and absolutely nothing is guaranteed either way. I'm expecting fireworks and drama pretty much from the off, for both men here.
I'd have loved to have seen it once upon a time, but it'll never again have the lustre it would've had if Joshua hadn't dropped the ball in 2019 and then been outclassed by Usyk. Fury needs a great doubter. What do we get from Joshua defeating (or 'defeating') Usyk and scurrying away with their series tied at 1–1 and no rubber match? It couldn't reasonably be claimed that Joshua was the definitive #1 challenger to Fury unless he absolutely annihilates Usyk, so all we get is Fury vs. the next guy around, albeit with a whole bunch of hype and razzmatazz attached. If Usyk does as he should do, we get an undefeated, highly accomplished rival and a huge event still. I know which I'd rather see. Joshua is the glamor fight, but Usyk is the better fighter, so that's the guy I want to see Fury in a ring with before any other. Joshua would have to do something extraordinary on Saturday, would need to make their first encounter appear to have been an abberation, to make me reconsider that position.