Joshua Usyk

I agree and I'm probably in the minority as most tend to lean one way or another but I am a big fan of both AJ and Fury.

If Fury beats Wilder again and AJ manages to get past Usyk, it's the fight the whole world wants to see. And for me, it's genuinely a bona fide 50/50.

It'll be very frustrating if it doesn't happen again for whatever reason.
 
I'll be down in London for the fight so really looking forward to it. As others have mentioned I think this is a really, really tricky task for Joshua. If he wins, and it's still a big if at this point, surely even some of the most anti-AJ posters on here have to recognise the achievement.

I know it's been done to the death but Joshua has a far superior record to Fury (and I'm a big Fury supporter) and Wilder. Add Usyk to that list and it's impossible to argue that he has a significantly better record than the others.

Fury said a few days ago that he'll never be beaten but while his record shows he has never lost, those who follow boxing know he should have lost his first fight with John McDermott and a lot of boxing fans recognise that. It was a very young Fury and he's hugely, hugely improved since then but he needs to think of that when he's rubbishing AJ losing to Ruiz. Ruiz is infinitely better than McDermott ever was and AJ was fighting much, much better opposition than Fury at the respective points in their careers.

It's rumoured that Usyk is coming in at a career heavy and looks to be trying to build his power. If he adds power and weight and doesn't lose any of his hand speed it could really spell trouble for Joshua. That said I always think the cliche is right that a good biggun beats a good littlun. Usky is technically superior to any heavyweight other than perhaps Fury but if he hasn't got the power to trouble AJ I think AJ wins. Cagey first 3 or 4 rounds then we'll know where it's going. If Usyk has stung AJ a couple of times we might see him retreat into his shell and give Usyk the opportunity of a points win; equally if AJ hasn't been hurt I can see him getting more on the front foot and really trying to take Usyk out and that extra weight might work against him if AJ is catching him with big shots.

It's an intriguing contest and I can see all outcomes - I favour Joshua around 60/40 but it really could go any way.
Some good points there - it is very intriguing. If we didn’t know Usyk and based it on his performance against Chisora then I would heavily favour Joshua.

the point you make about speed and weight is also very interesting. It’s all very well piling on three stone (or whatever) but how will his body handle that - he’s put it on in a fairly short space of time - who knows how that will impact of the going gets tough.

I’m at a wedding Saturday so will be the first big fight I’ve missed in a good few years.
 
Fury said a few days ago that he'll never be beaten but while his record shows he has never lost, those who follow boxing know he should have lost his first fight with John McDermott and a lot of boxing fans recognise that. It was a very young Fury and he's hugely, hugely improved since then but he needs to think of that when he's rubbishing AJ losing to Ruiz. Ruiz is infinitely better than McDermott ever was and AJ was fighting much, much better opposition than Fury at the respective points in their careers.

Good post that and I agree with most of what you have said barring this, "But he needs to think of that when he's rubbishing AJ losing to Ruiz". Ultimately however, Fury didn't lose that match as controversial as it was, and his record shows that, so I doubt he's thinking too much about that when talking about Joshua's defeat to Ruiz.

After all is said and done, Tyson's the only undefeated fighter out of the two of them, so he's well within his rights to belittle AJ over his defeat to a 25-1 underdog who took the fight with four weeks notice.

I'm firmly in camp Fury if you hadn't guessed but there is no understating Joshua's achievements and I really hope for everyone's sake that this fight goes ahead, but I really can't see it happening.
 
Good post that and I agree with most of what you have said barring this, "But he needs to think of that when he's rubbishing AJ losing to Ruiz". Ultimately however, Fury didn't lose that match as controversial as it was, and his record shows that, so I doubt he's thinking too much about that when talking about Joshua's defeat to Ruiz.

After all is said and done, Tyson's the only undefeated fighter out of the two of them, so he's well within his rights to belittle AJ over his defeat to a 25-1 underdog who took the fight with four weeks notice.

I'm firmly in camp Fury if you hadn't guessed but there is no understating Joshua's achievements and I really hope for everyone's sake that this fight goes ahead, but I really can't see it happening.
I mean. If Tyson fought otto wallin in this country it would have been over with that cut.
 
As good as Usyk is I think Joshua will put him away early. I reckon something like a 6th round stoppage.
 
Can't argue with that, yet Fury's still undefeated.
The records says so and so it is true. However we all know that boxing is corrupt and had justice been done then Fury would have had at least one loss on his record.

I don't say this to be controversial or stir up the Fury / AJ debate as like I said earlier I'm a big fan of both. Let's hope that they both come through their respective fights and that at long last the AJ v Fury fight we all long to see actually goes ahead.
 
Usyk rumoured to be weighed in heavier which is very unexpected.

AJ on points for me. He's much quicker around the ring and I'm not sure if Usyk can handle being that heavy.

One of those fights where however it goes the repercussions will be very interesting.
 
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AJ in 8 by TKO. Usyk struggled to avoid getting hit by Chisora, he would need a significant improvement in his defence not to get hurt by AJ who is stronger, faster and more skilled than Chisora. I know Usyk has bulked, and that might help keep AJ from pressing as hard as chisora tried, but if AJ puts any sort of pressure like that then Usyk will be in big trouble.

AJs problems will come if he is too passive, lets Usyk get into his rhythm early before putting any damage on him,

I never liked fighters bulking up too much, so I’ll be interested in seeing how Usyk looks. If you’re the smaller man, no matter how much you bulk up, you’re still going to be the smaller man but probably detrimental to your advantages. That said, Usyk is a top level fighter with a great team, so I’m sure they know more than me. It’s just history usually tells us bulking up to match an opponent never works out too well.

I still don’t think the Chisora fight has any significance to this. If AJ tried applying that sort of pressure, he would be gassed in 3. Chisora has been a pressure fighter all his life and knows how to use that style.

I think stylistically, Usyk would prefer an AJ fight any day. A fairly rigid upright fighter who will try to jab with you. That’s always going to be favourable to a boxer like Usyk, as opposed to being swarmed by a lump like Chisora.

Another point worth noting is AJ has sometimes struggled to get to grips with smaller fighters. The Takam performance wasn’t great. Parker gave him some angles and movement and AJ didn’t have much of an idea on how to set up his work. Even with Povetkin early on, but he was old.

The Parker fight is the one worth looking at, he’s arguably the only opponent that used real movement v AJ and AJ couldn’t land anything significant. Couldn’t set up his work. Well Usyk is much better than Parker with angles and movement, better feet. Another thing is he is a southpaw.

The more I look at the fight and think about these things and get away from the small man v big man scenario, which I don’t think will be a huge factor as I explained in my earlier posts , the more I think Usyk is a really bad style for AJ.

No outcome would shock me at all, I’ve just got this feeling that Usyk beats him and by stoppage somewhere around the 9th.
 
I still don’t think the Chisora fight has any significance to this. If AJ tried applying that sort of pressure, he would be gassed in 3. Chisora has been a pressure fighter all his life and knows how to use that style.
fair point, but if he applied that pressure and landed as easily as Chisora it would be over in 1 1/2 rounds.
 
Usyk rumoured to be weighed in heavier which is very unexpected.

AJ on points for me. He's much quicker around the ring and I'm not sure if Usyk can handle being that heavy.

One of those fights where however it goes the repercussions will be very interesting.
Ive seen a pic of scales showing 16st 5lbs wouldnt surpirse me if its fake and mind games though, they will be hoping AJ comes in heavy as it hampers him, hes much better when hes fighting lighter.
 
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Ive seen a pic of scales showing 16st 5lbs wouldnt surpirse me if its fake and mind games though, they will be hoping AJ comes in heavy as it hampers him, hes much better when hes fighting lighter.
it's over 2 stone heavier than his last cruiserweight fight against Bellew. No way that doesn't impact his footwork and stamina
 
Same old flaws for AJ — poor fighter in my opinion although I’d like him to win of course but I just don’t get the hype around him.
Apart from the fact there's a strong argument for him being the best in his era? He certainly has the best record in his era, it's some of this anti-AJ stuff that infuriates me.
 
Apart from the fact there's a strong argument for him being the best in his era? He certainly has the best record in his era, it's some of this anti-AJ stuff that infuriates me.
Don’t get me wrong but the reason why I’m not sold on AJ (and as many have pointed out on here) he seems to be very one dimensional. I’m hoping for for a better more aggressive AJ who can fight himself out of a corner and deliver more intelligent punches. As for being the best in his era I don’t really get that statement as champion boxers really need to judged on past champions IMO so we get a better perspective on their abilities.
 
If those scales are true and Usyk has gone upto 16st 5lbs it will be very interesting. AJ is coming in light for speed, could only be half a stone in it. Will the weight slow Usyk down, will it increase his power and punch resistance. It’s intriguing, Usyk is a notoriously slow starter it’s whether he’s still standing when he starts to up the pace. It’s also how he handles AJs combinations he has the footwork to move in and out and the hand speed to block and cover up, I’ve seen interviews with Ajs opponents who underrated him blocked his punches thinking they were safe but after time their arms became heavy, slowing them down and eventually resulting in them getting knocked out. Something they weren’t expecting.

Ive seen a pic of scales showing 16st 5lbs wouldnt surpirse me if its fake and mind games though, they will be hoping AJ comes in heavy as it hampers him, hes much better when hes fighting lighter.

I think its got to be mind games, why would you bulk up that much to fight the biggest puncher you've ever been in with.

Usyk's advantage is his movement and boxing IQ, why would you reduce your mobility it makes no sense.

The other thing is that if Usyk wanted to bulk up so that he could stand and trade with AJ surely you'd gradually build up to it over a few fights. Let's say he's put loads of muscle on, how will his team know how that extra bulk will affect him in the ring. You surely don't experiment in the biggest fight of your career. I know they can look at him in sparring to see how he copes with the extra bulk but its not the same as being in an actual fight.

I think the sensible money will be on an AJ points victory, Usyk wasn't a big puncher at Cruiserweight so I don't see him stopping AJ. Even if Usyk outboxes Joshua its unlikely he gets the points victory. I can see a tight chess match where Usyk outboxes AJ for long periods but ultimately lacking the firepower to really hurt him or get the points win.
 
Don’t get me wrong but the reason why I’m not sold on AJ (and as many have pointed out on here) he seems to be very one dimensional. I’m hoping for for a better more aggressive AJ who can fight himself out of a corner and deliver more intelligent punches. As for being the best in his era I don’t really get that statement as champion boxers really need to judged on past champions IMO so we get a better perspective on their abilities.
one dimensional? I mean he went to war with Klitschko, gave a boxing lesson against Ruiz, softened up then powered through Povetkin, showed too much hand speed for Charles Martin.

I wouldn't say he's the complete heavyweight, he could show more head movement certainly and when he starts throwing teh bombs he tires quickly, but he is damned good and it's absolutely ludicrous to claim otherwise. I know it's all about opinions, but if he is poor then 99% of heavyweights are absolutely rotten.
 
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