No. I've hedged AJ on points with Usyk 7-12. AJ could get the KO, either by lucky punch, legit stoppage or Matchroom stoppage but I think it's less than a 50% chance. Usyk has never been stopped and is tough, fast and skillful, while AJ is cautious due to his dodgy chin and gas tank and his power is overrated. He couldn't stop Parker, Ruiz x2 or Takam legitimately, even inactive grandpa Pulev took him 27 minutes to stop. The last opponent he stopped in the first half of a fight is Eric Molina 5 years ago and Breazeale absorbed 166 of AJ's punches to only 9 of Wilder's. AJ knows he will likely win a Matchroom decision if it goes the distance, so that's what his gameplan will revolve around.
Think Usyk will get a stoppage by the tenth round. High work rate, elusive foot work combined with the ability to take a punch, AJ's gas tank depleting.....10th round stoppage for Usyk.
I think you may be right, AJ has never been blessed with a great engine and I can see AJ blowing out from rounds 8-9, it will all depend if Usyk really goes for him. I think the fact AJ has stripped down all this weight says to me is he far more worried about Usyk and his own stamina than his fans are.
As many continue to believe that the bodybuilder will face a fighter like old Klitschko, old Povetkin or old Pulev, I want to get out of balance. USyk is one of the best southpaw counterpunchers ever. Besides the neuro-osseous-muscular-vascular apparatus of the bodybuilder's head (in few words: the chin) is not good. If you punch him well, he stops to fight and he goes down. His recoveries are the worst of the division. USyk Is a very smart fighter. He knows how to surprise Joshua. USyk KO8 KO9
I don't know, yet I do know that the Ruiz fight was proof of a weakness of Joshua which will come out eventually, and Usky is better than Ruiz just smaller. I give Usky a good chance to win by UD or late TKO..
If Joshua doesn't stop him and do it early then he needs to be reevaluated entirely. This fight should look like Tyson-Spinks. Or Frazier-Foster. Or Louis-Lewis. Everything is in Joshua's favor. Usyk hasn't looked remotely impressive at the weight even against unrated opponents. If Joshua doesn't win quickly and convincingly against a middle-aged cruiserweight likely competing in his last fight, he's a hype job. I'll say yes, Joshua stops him. There is no reason why he shouldn't. If he doesn't, there will be hell to pay.
Tyson Spinks ? Tyson is WAY more destructive than Joshua and Spinks although better than Usyk, doesn't move as well as Usyk in terms of mobility. Styles make fights. Wilder didn't blow out glass chin former cruiserweight Szpilka early and had trouble in that fight as well, but if Joshua doesn't he needs to be reevaluated entirely ? I can clearly see an agenda. That agenda will end soon when Wilder gets demolished by Fury. Wilder's time is coming to an end dubblechin. His destruction will be in due time and it will be glorious.