Who in the current crop of fighters has the best chance of beating Usyk?

Yeah, I respect Beterbiev, it’s just hard to see his style being effective against Usyk now that he’s tussled with guys 280 lbs. It’s not a style I think lends itself well to moving up in weight, and that isn’t to say he’s unskilled or anything, but his physicality is definitely an important part of his game.

 

Bakole I think

 

Every now and then when I see your posts, I actually think about your user name… and I get laugh and a cringe out of it at the same time. Lol!

 

Someone mentioned Del showing the template for beating Usyk is to flat out fight him, pressure, big shots, suffocate him. The Dubois Usyk 'beat' is demonstrably inferior to the seek and destroy Dubois we have now. I do wonder if Dubois beats Parker, and I expect him to do so clearly, he might be able to take advantage of Usyk's advancing years and visible decline? That fight would likely not come for the best part of a year...?

I don't think Usyk has to fight anyone, but if he does it's Dubois to put to bed the 'low blow' controversy once and for all.

 

Someone who can knock Usyk out in a punch and is willing to walk through shots. I am not saying Wardley, but for me it has to be someone who'll go in and fight like Wardley does, all out fighting style. The guy who beats Usyk (if it happens) will surely have to take a beating doing so, and be losing on points at the time of the KO.

 

This is why I picked Dubois. Usyk likely beats him again but Dubois seems to get better every fight...

 

Bakole or Kabayel stylistically. Would love to see those fights. You won't beat Usyk by fighting conservatively, he needs to be pressured.

Usyk would still have to be favoured obviously but he could get old overnight. His legs are the key to his success.

Dubois seems to be improving, let's see how the rematch goes. Looks like that fight will be next if Dubois beats Parker.

 

Agit Kabayel for sure.

I'm a huge Zhang fan but he doesn't have the gas tank to compete. Bakole hits hard but he's quite basic and not that fast. Dubois hasn't improved enough to make me think a rematch would go any differently. Parker doesn't do anything that Usyk doesn't do better.

Usyk most likely wins by decision, but Kabayel is the only guy I see right now with the speed and stamina to compete with Usyk. Usyk has an iron chin but Kabayel might be able to test Usyk's body.

 

The low blow controversy was put to bed when Usyk knocked Dubois out with a jab. Let's get some new opponents.

As to the question who can currently beat Usyk? Well it's heavyweight boxing so anything can happen. Usyk is getting older. If he keeps on fighting someone is going to eventually beat him. Right now, I think maybe Zhang? Not that I think he has a good chance, In fact, I think he has a terrible chance due to poor stamina and being ancient himself, but he has that one-punch game changing power.

Probably someone smaller moving up would stand the best chance. At heavyweight Usyk's advantage is his quickness and stamina. He's not a big puncher, so a younger fast light heavyweight/cruiser could do well against a 39 year old former cruiser.

 

Dubois Zhang and Opetaia

 

If he doesn't age nobody right now
I think Daniel on recent form and usyk being older would be harder, but he isn't good enough to pull it off

Parker would make it interesting, but he again isn't skilled enough and getting up in years. Ironically, had Dubouis not bludgeoned AJ, I think he would gave an interesting test, but lose down the stretch

Father time will beat him, that's if he hangs around too long

 

If he makes it to the final bell, he will get the decision lol

 

Looks like Usyk's happy to fight until the wheels come off. Soon the scales will tip where someone like a Dubois is prime enough and Usyk past prime enough that he loses.

That said, I'd hate for Dubois to beat Usyk. Warren would push the narrative the Dubois got revenge for being cheated out of a win before, where in reality Usyk just got old enough to drop to below Dubois' level. Fish-eyes doesn't deserve the last laugh on Usyk, who basically burned through his top fighters

 

I would also like that one and who knows. No other fight is going to make Beterbiev that money and it's a win-win legacy wise for him. Harder sell for Usyk, though.